153 



bubsoil, which possess very inadequate drainage. My examination of this class 

 of soils is not yet complete, and experiments are now in progress that may result in 

 throwing some light as to their proper treatment. But as far as the work has 

 progressed it would seem — at all events in those analysed — that a large excess of 

 alkali (salts of soda) is not present. There can be no doubt that the amount of soluble 

 inorganic matter, including alkali if present, varies in the upper strata of soil accord- 

 ing to the temperature and extent of rainfall, but it is at least worthy of note that 

 those examined, and which have been held to possess alkali, should contain such 

 small quantities of these salts of soda. Whether this may in part be due to the 

 season at which the samples were collected, I am unable to say. In two of those 

 examined, Nos. 4 and 7, there are notable percentages of sulphate of magnesium 

 (epsom salts), and I am now experimenting to ascertain if this salt in quanties such 

 as have been found, is deleterious to vegetation. 



The amelioration of such soils is a subject of great importance to the farmers in 

 many parts of the North- West Territories and Manitoba, and rightly forms an object 

 for our investigation. As the alkali is soluble in water, a thorough drainage system 

 should be resorted to wherever practicable. I am firmly of the belief that this 

 would be the most efficacious method of getting rid of the poisonous material. Deep 

 ploughing should be practised. Thorough tillage prevents surface evaporation and 

 the accumulation of alkali near the surface. A heavy dressing of barn-yard manure, 

 animal refuse or other highly nitrogenous organic matter, is said by many to 

 materially improve these alkali patches, inducing a vigorous growth. Again, by 

 others gypsum is strongly recommended, though I have not received any strong evi- 

 dence of its efficacy. Where the alkali is carbonate of soda, gypsum is, however, 

 beneficial in converting this caustic salt into one less deleterious to vegetation. 

 Further work and experience it is hoped will enable us to give more definite informa- 

 tion regarding the improvement of these soils, which in other respects would be 

 termed very fertile. 



Constituents of Soils. 



In Part I of ray last report (1890) is to be found a short history of soils in 

 general, as well as an account of the changes which are continually taking place 

 in them due to fermentation processes and atmospheric agencies. I therefore 

 now append only a very brief* statement of the amount and functions of the more 

 important elements of plant food in soils, reserving a notice of the special character- 

 istics of the specimens analysed when considering the soils individually. 



The nQOst important inorganic constituents of a soil are potash and phosphoric 

 acid. These, together with nitrogen, are known as the essential elements of plant food. 



Potash — derived principally from the decomposition of feldspathic rocks, e.g., 

 granite — exists chiefly in combination with silica in a more or less soluble condition. 

 The limits of potash in a soil lie between a mere trace and about 2 per cent. A good 

 agricultural soil contains between "25 per cent and 1 per cent. Clay soils, usually, 

 are the richest in potash. 



Potash, as a fertilizer, is of special value to clover, pease and other leguminous 

 crops ; potatoes, beets, cabbage, grasses and leafy plants in general are also benefited 

 by it. It should form a large part of manures for orchards and all fruit trees. 



Phosphoric acid, combined principally with lime, is found in all fertile soils. 

 Like potash, it has been derived from the rock that originated the soil, and conse- 

 quently is not constant in quantity. It never exceeds 1 per cent, even in the richest 

 soils, and the average in good soils is about -2 per cent. 



It benefits chiefly root crops, e.g., turnips and beets, and in conjunction with 

 nitrogenous manures is very efl'ective for the cereals, promoting an early maturity 

 and an increased yield. 



Lime. — Of the inorganic elements of minor importance, lime is the principal. 

 It affords food directly to the plant and liberates in the soil potash and nitrogen pre- 

 existent in insoluble forms. Many consider that less than 1 per cent shows a soil to 

 be deficient in lime, and calcarious soils are almost invariably fertile. 



