\54- 



No special mention need here be made of the other mineral constituents, as most 

 soils contain suflScient for all the requirements of farm crops. 



Nitrogen is the element of value in the organic portion of a soil. It there exists, 

 for the moat part, in forms from which it can be but slowly absorbed by plants. By 

 a process of fermentatioa, known as nitrification, it ib rendered assimihible. The 

 presence of lime (carbonate of lime) appears to assist in this useful operation, espe- 

 cially when the ground is sufficiently open for air to permeate it. Moisture and 

 ■warmth are also necessary to encourage the growth of the microscopic ferment which 

 causes the foi'mation of nitrates fi'om niirogenous material. 



Yavj rich soils contain fi-om "5 per cent to 1 per cent of nitrogen ; good, fertile 

 soils possess on an average from '15 per cent to "25 per cent. 



Nitrogen is essentially the fertilizer for cereals, especially when associated with 

 phosphoric acid. An excess of nitrogen, however, piomotes a rank growth of straw. 



The following notes regarding the source and character of the soils examined, 

 will be found useful when studying the analytical data in the annexed table: — 



No. 1, A greyish-black soil of fine texture from the valley of the Fraser River, 

 sent by Wm. Tasker, of Ladner's Landing, B.C. It has resulted from the deposition 

 of the silt brought down by this river. An area of over 30 square miles is said to 

 be covered by soil of this origin and character. 



Both from chemical analysis and physical appearance, this soil should be an 

 extremely fertile one, provided other conditions are favourable. It possesses potash, 

 phosphoric acid and nitrogen in quantities considerably above those in rich, fertile 

 soils. 



No. 2. A surface soil, from Yorkton, N.-W.T., forwarded by Mr. R, Mitchell, of 

 Carlow, Ireland, who had visited the larger portion of Ihe 'North-West Territories, 

 with the view of ascertaining the relative advantages offered there to settlers. It is 

 a black, sandy loam, containing a large amount of organic matter and nitrogen. In 

 potash and phosphoric acid it also ranks with the most productive soils. 



No. 3. Subsoil to the preceding sample. 



A knowledge of the composition of a subsoil is valuable as an aid to good 

 practice. It is often beneficial to mix by deep ploughing the subsoil with that of 

 the surface, and again there are many instances in which such would do more harm 

 than good. The soil under discussion appears to be one fairly rich in the organic 

 and inorganic elements of plant food. The surface soil, derived from the subsoil 

 plus the remains of decayed plants, is richer, as might be expected, in organic mat- 

 ter and nitrogen; yet we find here these present in quantities equalling those 

 possessed by many surface soils held to be fertile. It contains more lime, but less 

 phosphoi'ic acid and potash, than the soil resting upon it. These in the latter are 

 probably more readily available for plant nutrition. 



No. 4. A so-called alkali soil, forwarded by John C. Kinghorn, of Saltcoats, 

 N.-W.T. A greyish-black soil, containing all the constituents necessary for plant 

 growth, in good quantities. As before remarked alkali (i.e., salts of soda) are not 

 present in excess, and the cause of the trouble is not very evident. 



No. 5. Also an alkali soil, from Geo. W. Stewart, Moosomin. A little darker, 

 but otherwise very similar in appearance to No. 4. The absence of sulphuric acid 

 and chlorine — save in traces — in a soil of this character, is worthy of remark. In 

 lime and magnesia it is considerably lower than the preceding specimen, while in 

 soda it possesses a like amount. In fertilizing constituents it is almost equal to the 

 above subsoil. 



No. 6. Sent by Wm. Walsh, Sharp Hill Creek, Calgary, N.-W.T. I consider 

 that this should be a very fertile soil, provided that climatic influences are fovourable 

 The analytical data show it contains more than avei'age quantities of the requisite 

 elements of plant food. 



No. 7. An alkali soil from 3 miles north of Brandon, Manitoba, Somewhat 

 lighter in colour than Nos. 4 and 5. It is very low in potash and phosphoric acid, 

 but of medium quality as regards nitrogen. It possesses sulphuric acid, chlorine, 

 magnesia and soda in more marked quantities than the soils of this character 

 already considered. The lime, if combined with the carbonic acid, would be equiva- 



