DIVISION OF CBEMISTHY 



93 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



future culture, drainage, the cliaracter of the crops grown and several other factors 

 may profoundly modify the deductions made simply from analytical data. 



Analysis of (air-dried) Soils. 



Laby. No. 8768^ — A large amount of vegetable matter usually betokens rich- 

 ness in nitrogen, and it is not surprising, therefore, to find this soil characterized 

 by a high percentage of this element. The crude condition of much of this organic 

 matter, however, leads us to conclude that but a small portion of this nitrogen is 

 in a form readily convertible into plant food; we must rather consider this as a 

 store of nitrogen to be gradually made available by good methods of culture. It 

 is quite probable also, for the same reason, that in spite of this apparent abundance 

 of nitrogen, a good response might be obtained from applications of manure, since 

 euch furnish readily convertible, nitrifiable nitrogen for the immediate feeding of 

 our crops. 



In the mineral elements of fertility — potash and phosphoric acid — this soil 

 appears to be fairly well supplied, the amounts comparing favourably with those 

 obtained from many of our good soils, i.e., of average fertility. The proportions 

 which may be considered as more or less available are, we think, quite satisfactory, 

 indicating no especial or immediate necessity for fertilizers furnishing these elements 

 in soluble forms. 



For a soil of a sandy or gravelly character, the lime content is by no means low; 

 we should judge there was sufficient at present both for crop use and for the promotion 

 of nitrification. 



Lahy. No. 8750. — The very small amount of humus-forming mat'jritil present in 

 this soil has already been commented on and emphasis has been laid on the desirability 

 of adding to its store, on both chemical and physical grounds. The percentage of nitro- 

 gen, as might be expected under the circumstances, is quite low and the aim should 

 be towards increasing it through organic forms (manure, the turning under of green 

 crops, fish waste, etc.), rather than by application of the more soluble forms, such as 

 nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. 



The phosphoric acid percentages — both ' total ' and ' available ' — are very small 

 and a favourable response to phosphate fertilizers might well be expected. Among 

 such fertilizers we should consider basic slag the most desirable for soils of this type. 



The potash is similarly low and we have in consequence to emph.;size the desir- 

 ability of including special potassic fertilizers e.g., wood ashes, sulphate and muriate 

 of potash, in any scheme for the general improvement of the soil. 



The amount of lime extracted with strong acid is excec^diugly sm;:ll and that 

 which would be available for crop use is practic-Jly negligible. Lime may be furnished 

 in one or more of many forms, but it would not be wise to use large amounts of quick- 

 lime unless the soil were well manured or following the turning under of a good growth 

 of some green crop. Wood ashes, in addition to it being a valuable potassic fertilizer 



