REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 145 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The proportion of Salt in Marsh Soils. — Since the fertility of marsh depends in a 

 large measure upon the thoroughness with which the common salt has been eliminated, 

 a determination of this constituent was deemed advisable. The percentages obtained 

 are as follows, and represent the amounts present in the water-free soils : — 



Common salt 

 per cent. 



No. 1 -037 



No. 2 1 -04S 



No. 3 4-16 



No. 4 -939 



No. 5 -217 



Conclusions and Suggestions. — No. 1. As regards humus (organic matter) and 

 nitrogen, this soil would compare well with those of fair average richness, the per- 

 centages of nitrogen in such usually being between *1 and "2 per cent. 



The lime-content agrees with that found in many Canadian sandy loams of aver- 

 age fertility, which as a rule lies between *1 and - 3 per cent. It cannot, however, be 

 considered as rich in this constituent. 



The total potash in this, as in the other members of the series, is much higher 

 than in most of our virgin soils. It most probably exists in the form of double sili- 

 cates, and would be gradually liberated in an assimilable condition under good methods 

 of soil culture and favourable climatic conditions. 



The percentage of phosphoric acid is somewhat lower than that in Canadian virgin 

 soils of average fertility, but as we shall see shortly, a large proportion of this is in an 

 available form. 



This soil, as also Nos. 2, 3 and 4, is characterized by a large percentage of oxide of 

 iron a feature that frequently betokens, when the iron is fully oxidized (by aeration 

 which follows efficient drainage and good cultural methods), a favourable condition for 

 plant growth. 



The immediate fertility or crop-producing power of a soil as contrasted with that 

 which is latent, is measured by the percentages of the essential elements necessary for 

 plant nourishment that are available, rather than by the percentages extracted by hot 

 hydrochloric acid — the solvent employed in the usual methods of analysis. The amounts 

 of the so-called available elements are obtained by using an acid solution which is 

 approximately equal in solvent power to that exuded by the roots and rootlets of plants. 

 Such a solvent is a 1 per cent solution of citric acid.* By this method, known as the 

 Dyer method, after the chemist who introduced it in 1894, this soil (No. 1) appears to 

 be fairly well supplied in available phosphoric acid, but somewhat below the average 

 of fertile soils as regards available potash, probably resulting from its removal by the 

 hay crop during the long term of years the marsh has been cut. Further, it seems 

 probable that this soil is somewhat deficient in its store of available lime. 



In character, it may be classed as a sandy loam, containing fair proportions of 

 clay and organic matter. 



It is exceedingly interesting and satisfactory to note that in this soil the salt has 

 been so thoroughly washed out. Of all the samples it contains the least. The extent 

 to which this removal has taken place will be evident on comparing the percentage in 

 this soil (-037) with that in No. 3 (4-16), which is newly laid down marsh. 



Considered generally, we might prejudge the soil as one capable of yielding good 

 crops under favourable climatic conditions, but one also that might have its product- 

 iveness increased by occasional manurings and thorough drainage where necessary to 



' *A full discussion of the character of many Canadian virgin scils, standards of fertility 

 and methods of analysis, is to be found in the Report of the Chemist of the Experimental 

 Farms, 1897. 



16—10 



