REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 143 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



In several of the past reports of this Division, analyses have been given of tho 

 marsh ' mud ' as deposited by the tide, and which is very generally used on all lands 

 adjoining the Bay of Fundy, as an amendment or fertilizer. Hitherto, however, we 

 have not had the opportunity of making any systematic examination of the soils of the 

 reclaimed marshes. This important work has, through the co-operation of Professor 

 Wm. F. Ganong, been partially accomplished during the past year, and the analytical 

 results obtained are here presented. 



The samples, five in number, were collected and forwarded by Professor Wm. 

 F. Ganong, who for some years past has been making a critical study of the reclaimed 

 salt marshes which lie at the head of the Bay of Fundy. It was thought by him 

 that there might be some relationship between the character and composition 

 of these soils— which have all been deposited by the tide — and their vegetation, and 

 that a knowledge of this relationship might be of economic, as well as scientific, 

 value. Recognizing the significance of this conjecture, and knowing that large and 

 important agricultural interests are closely identified with these reclaimed marshes, 

 both in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the analysis of these soils was undertaken. 

 The data are not only exceedingly interesting from a scientific standpoint, but are 

 of value in indicating the character of these soils and in furnishing information that 

 may be of use to the practical farmer as to the best treatment of these marshes. 



The following particulars are furnished by Professor Ganong : — 



Description and Location of Soils. — No. 1. Marsh land. From near Aulac river, 

 opposite Pointe de Bute. Has yielded heavy crops of timothy and associated grasses 

 for at least forty years without ploughing, tiding, fertilizing or other cultural 

 treatment. 



No. 2. Soil from low part of marsh producing very poor grass. Patches sur- 

 rounded by very good grass. Near Missequash river, opposite Pointe de Bute, Here 

 and there on the good marsh are areas of a few square yards on which there is a poor 

 growth, and this No. 2 is a sample from one of these. Deposit very deep, known to be 

 twenty feet or more. 



No. 3. Mud freshly brought in and laid down by the tide at mouth of Tantramar 

 river, on a piece of marsh being newly ' tided.' A sample of the deposit of which 

 the entire marshes are built ; the original marsh material unaffected by any vegetation. 



No. 4. Blue clay, from 18 inches below the surface in a damp place inside the 

 company's canal, near Missequash river, above Pointe de Bute. The red mud changes 

 to this where drainage is poor. It then bears a coarse, nearly useless, vegetation. 

 Deposit, many feet deep. Extremely poor soil end needing improvement. 



No. 5. Brown mud, from 2£ feet below the surface, inside the company's canal, 

 near Missequash river, above Pointe de Bute. Being thus below the surface, this soil 

 has never borne crops directly, though it is penetrated by roots of the grass on the 

 ordinary cultivated marsh land above. Deposit is many feet deep. 



On arrival at the laboratory, the following notes were made on the samples, all 

 of which were in an air-dried condition : — 



No. 1. Of a distinctly red colour ; in small lumps easily broken between the 

 finger and thumb, and containing a considerable amount of root fibre. For a marsh 

 soil, it has the appearance of being in a very fair mechanical condition, though pos- 

 sibly it might be improved in this respect by drainage. 



No. 2. In larger and less friable lumps than No. 1, of a grayish-blue colour 

 with streaks of reddish soil through them. The colour and condition point to insuffi- 

 cient aeration, resulting no doubt from the drainage being imperfect. 



No. 3. In layers something like shale, one-eighth to one-fourth inches in thick- 

 ness, distinctly red, and easily broken. Has more the appearance of a rock than a soil. 



No. 4. In exceedingly hard, tenacious lumps, bluish-gray, but showing many 

 streaks of a greenish-yellow colour. 



