REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 159 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Turning to the Ir.dian Head samples, we find a similar condition during the 

 early months of the season as at Brandon. Thus, the moisture in the fallowed land 

 of 1899, over and above that of cropped land of that year was as follows : — 



Tons. Lbs. 



May 8, 1900, excess of moisture ini fallowed land 



of 1899 159 804 



June 8, 1900, excess of moisture in fallowed land 



of 1899 177 G62 



The July analyses give data in the same direction as those of August for Brandon, 

 namely, less moisture in soil B (cropped 1900). The causes, we may suppose, are the 

 same as those already indicated as exerting an effect at Brandon, the lighter rainfall 

 at Indian Head accounting for the earlier appearance of the deficiency in soil 

 moisture in the cropped land. This condition continued to prevail throughout July, 

 August, and September, as seen by consulting Table IL, from which the subjoined 

 data are calculated : — 



Tons. Lbs. 



July 8, 1900, excess of moisture in fallowed land of 



1900, per acre 92 1,859 



August 8, 1900, excess of moisture in fallowed land 



of 1900, per acre 16 257 



September 8, 1900, excess of moisture in fallowed 



land of 1900, per acre 82 173 



During the last two months of collection, the moistures in the cropped and 

 fallowed soils, as in the case of the soils at Brandon, tend to approximate, but showing 

 in the last determination, as also observed in the Brandon soils, a slight excess of 

 moisture in the land fallowed during the present year. 



The foregoing are without doubt most instructive and valuable data. The season, 

 especially the earlier part, was a particularly favourable one for the investigation ; the 

 drought that prevailed during the spring and early summer months emphasizing in 

 a most marked manner the beneficial effect of the previous year's fallowing. It is 

 exceedingly satisfactory to note that the results at both points of observation are in 

 so large a measure confirmatory of one another, and that thej' afford such strong 

 evidence of the value of fallowing as a means of storing up moisture for the crop of 

 the succeeding year. 



Further work another season when climatic conditions of a more normal character 

 prevail, must be done. In addition to a repetition of the tests here presented, it 

 is proposed to include the determination of moisture in soil growing the second crop 

 after fallow, for it seems the practice of sowing grain on stubble land — quite a common 

 one — often results in failure when the rainfall of the season is light. 



NITRIFICATION" IN NOETH-WEST SOILS. 



Nitrification is the term lapplied to the process whereby the organic nitrogen of 

 the soil is converted into nitrates — compounds which are the source of available 

 nitrogen to crops. It is carried on in the soil by certain germs or micro-organisms 

 which flourish on the humus or nitrogenous vegetable matter, providing conditions of 

 warmth and moisture are favourable and a salifiable base, as lime, is present. 



The warm, moist months of summer is when nitrification goes on most rapidly. 

 But it is, nevertheless, es.sential to the best results that the growing grain should 

 have access to an ample supply of this soluble nitrogenous food at a pei-iod in the 

 spring or early summer, when frequently nitrification is but tardy. During such a 



