REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 147 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



PRIXCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



Marsh Soil. — Respecting this reclaimed land, the inquiry i3 received : 'Will 

 timothy and clover thrive upon it ? ' Mr. Richard Egan, of Mount Stewart, P.E.I., 

 in sending the marsh soil for analysis says : ' The land was formerly flooded by salt 

 water. Some three years ago an aboideau was constructed, and for two years after 

 good crops of marsh hay were taken from it. Now there is hardly any crop — the 

 marsh grasses are apparently dying. There are over 500 acres of this land owned by 

 different farmers, who are at present suffering a great loss.' 



When received, the sample consisted of granular masses and a small amount 

 of powder, of a light gray colour, mixed with many fragments of vegetable fibre, chiefly 

 of eel grass. From the appearance and construction of the soil particles it would seem 

 as if they were formed by the deposition of a fine silt about the partly disintegrated 

 fibre. The whole was of a very loose, light texture. 



To ascertain, if possible, the cause of the alleged sterility, we made an examination 

 of the soil and obtained the following data : — 



Analysis of {air-dried) Marsh Soil. 



Moisture 3-29 



Organic and volatile matter 15 '79 



Mineral matter, insoluble in acid GO -10 



Mineral matter, soluble in acid 20-82 



100 -00 



Lime *31 



Nitrogen -45 



f Common salt '31 



*Sulphate of lime -93 



fCalculated from chlorine. *Calculated from sulphuric acid. 



It would appear from these figures that as regards nitrogen and humus there is no 

 deficiency ; indeed, the amounts present show that in these constituents the soil is par- 

 ticularly rich, though no doubt much of the nitrogen is not in an assimilable 

 condition. 



No determination of the percentages of the potash and phosphoric acid present 

 was made, but we feel assured from past work upon virgin marsh land that the trouble 

 cannot be due to lack of these elements. 



The amount of lime, '31 per cent, indicates that this element 13 not wanting. 



The soluble chlorides and sulphates (common salt, sulphate of lime) present, 

 though not excessive, would suggest the desirability of more thorough drainage if 

 timothy and clover are to be sown. Possibly a fair growth of the cultivated grasses 

 could now be obtained, and every succeeding season, provided the showers can wash out 

 and carry away the salt, the conditions for their development would be improved. 



The skilful culture or working of the land, in addition to drainage, would no doubt 

 assist in bringing about that texture or mechanical condition of the soil necessary to 

 the vigorous growth of timothy and clover. At present it seems to be too light and 

 porous, and though these qualities are conducive to the sweetening and aeration of the 

 soil, a firmer and more compact tilth is desirable for cultivated grasses. To this end 

 it might be desirable to cultivate the land one or two seasons with a root crop, furnish- 

 ing sufficient manure to give the young plants a good start. 



There is another course open, but it means the growing of the coarser, less nutri- 

 tious salt grasses. If the marsh were flooded, the probability is that much of the ap- 

 parently dead marsh grass would revive, and in a season or two a good crop of hay pro- 

 cured. This method would, of course, preclude the possibility of growing timothy and 



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