136 - EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



No. 3. — Near Binscarth — 



Mairnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) 1-97 



Sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt) M-4G 



" chloride (common salt) -07 



Potassium chloi'ide .. -01 



Calcium sulphate (gypsum) -89 



Calcium carbonate.... -15 



No, 4. — Prom North of Brandon — 



Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts)... 5 06 



Sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt) -355 



" chloride -42 



Potassium chloride .*. 08 



Calcium sulphate (gypsum) 107 



" carbonate -325 



It is to be inferred from the foregoing that not only the total amount, but also 

 the composition of the alkali in the soils, is extremely variable. Though in all the 

 the four specimens, magnesium sulphate is present in large amounts, and notably so 

 in Nos. 1 and 4, sodium sulphate (also deleterious to vegetation) exists in consid- 

 erable percentages in Nos. 1 and 3. The proportion of magnesium sulphate to 

 sodium sulphate and other soluble alkali is by no means constant. 



These soils were of the deep black typo, so well known in Manitoba, and contained 

 large percentages of the valuable element, nitrogen. They would undoubtedly 

 prove exceedingly fertile if freed fiom alkali. 



In 1892 several series of pot experiments were carried on with wheat, pease and 

 Indian corn in soils impregnated (a) with magnesium sulphate, (6) with 

 magnesium sulphate mixed with carbonate of lime (chalk), and (c) with 

 magnesium sulphate and lime. -Many of the results obtained, together with 

 illustrations showing the growth of the plants under these circumstances, are 

 to be found in my evidence before the " Select Standing Committee of the House of 

 Oommons on Agriculture and Colonization" for 1893. It will therefore only bo 

 necessary here to give a summary of th« conclusions then reached. 



In soils to which 5 per cent of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) had been 

 added, the germination of the seeds was always greatly retarded. Many of the seeds 

 sown never produced plants that appeared above the surface of the ground, while 

 those which came up lacked robustness, made but little guowth and then died. 

 All the experiments proved that magnesium sulphate to the extent of 5 per cent in 

 the soil is most disastrous to plant life. 



In another series, suflScient carbonate of lime, in the form of powdered chalk, 

 was mixed with the soil to theoretically convert after the lapse of time the 5 per 

 cent of magnesium sulphate into an inert and insoluble compound. In these pots 

 germination was also delayed, though not so long as in the former series, and a greater 

 percentage of plants grew, though their development was not equal in vigour or luxuri- 

 ance to those in the potting soil. To a certain extent carbonate of lime had count- 

 eracted the deleterious effects of the magnesium sulphate. 



Further experiments were then commenced in which lime was substituted for 

 carbonate of lime in the soil containing the 5 per cent of magnesium sulphate. The 

 reaction of the lime in rendering the magnesium salt insoluble would be quicker, 

 and better results were therefore expected, than in the foregoing series. This pre- 

 diction proved correct. Though germination was somewhat retarded, a greater 

 percentage of plants grew and attained a larger and healthier growth than in the 

 soil containing the antidote, carbonate of lime. It was evident that the lime proved 

 the more efficacious of the two. 



This latter series of experiments has been repeated this year, and the results 

 are now given in graphic form. They are in accord with those of last year and 

 show quite distinctly that soils containing magnesium sulphate as the only form of 

 alkali may be effectually treated by a dressing of lime. The growth of the wheat, . 

 pease and Indian corn plants under the several cii'cumstances of the experiments is 

 well depicted on the accompanying diagrams. 



The experiments began May 28th and ended July 28th, 1893. 



