n/17S70V OF CEEMISiTRY 



- 91 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



NOVA SCOTIA SOILS. 



The four soil .samples now reported were collected and forwarded, with notes, by 

 Mr. L. C. Harlow at the instance of Principal Gumming of Truro, N.S., Secretary of 

 Agriculture for Nova Scotia. 



Lahfi. No. 8758. — Labelled No. 4N. 'From farm of Mr. Cock, New Annan, Ctd. 

 Co.; cultivated area, for many years in grass, but not manured; in river valley 'which 

 is frequently ovei-flowed; only surface drained; soil probably about 2 feet deep. Typi- 

 cal of many miles, as the river valley broadens.' A coarse and very loose gravelly loam 

 of a deep brown colour and showing an abundance of root fibre. 



Lahy. No. <97o.9.— Labelled No. 6N. ' From farm Jno. Cunningham, Bay Head, 

 Col. Co.; virgin soil but U'sed for pasture, covered with laurel and dry upland grass; 

 no drainage. The north shore of Colchester county has much soil of this nature.' A 

 light yellowish-grey soil, containing some gravel and of a generally poor, thin appear- 

 ance. 



Lahy. No. 5760.— Labelled No. 7S. ' From Otter Brook, Stowiack, Col. Co.; virgin 

 soil, covered with laurel, blueberry, low ground grasses. No drainage, ground low. 

 Depth of soil without apparent change 18 inches. The north side of Stewiack valley 

 has extensive flats of similar soil.' A bi'ownish-red clay loam, without stones or gravel 

 and fairly friable. 



Lahy. No. 576i.— Labelled No. 18S. ' From property of Mr. M. L. Tupper, :Middle 

 Musquodoboit, Halifax Oo. Virgin soil, scattered over with small spruce, blueberry, 

 arbutus. No underdrainage, but needs it. With heavy clay subsoil. Typical of west 

 side of valley of Musquodoboit River.' A light-red, loose, gravelly loam, with a fair 

 amount of stones and rock fragments. 



The results of the physical examination of these soils are given in the subjoined 

 table, and their study will afford much useful information as to the general nature 

 of the loams, their culture and treatment and their suitability for specific crops. 



Approxim.xte Physical Analysis of Soils from Nova Scotia. 



Lahy No. 8758. — This is essentially gravelly, the proportion of reck fragments 

 being quite large. The greater part of the fine soil (less than 5 mm. diam.) is sand, 

 much of which is quite coarse. The percentage of clay and silt is very small, practi- 

 cally negligible. For a soil of this character the amount of organic matter is very 

 high; it should be remarked, however, that the larger part of this is not humified, but 

 exists as root fibre that has undergone little or no decomposition as yet. 



The absence of clay and the coarseness of a large proportion of the sand explain 

 the lack of cohesivcness of this soil and indicate that its crops might suffer very con- 

 siderably in seasons of drought. The very liberal amount of vegetable matter present 

 would no doubt do much to offset the tendency of this soil to dry out rapidly. In soils 



