148 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



clover, and we should therefore advise a careful scrutiny of the marsh and the trial of 

 timothy and clover on the better drained portions, before resorting to the latter plan 

 and letting in the salt water. Though possibly there may be marked differences in the 

 qualities of these tidal deposited soils, we do not know of any instance where the land 

 has not yielded to a proper and thorough system of reclamation, giving remunerative 

 crops of cultivated grasses as soon as the salt has been sufficiently washed out and the 

 soil become well aerated and, in such cases as this, well compacted. 



SOILS EXAMINED FOR DEFICIENCY IN LIME. 



Many soils are received respecting which information is merely sought as to their 

 richness in lime, so that their future treatment as regards this form of plant food may 

 be in accord with the best practice. These samples, as a rule, are tested qualitatively, 

 and from the results obtained an opinion is forwarded as to the necessity or desira- 

 bility of a lime application. Occasionally, however, when these soils are representa- 

 tive of large areas they are submitted to a quantitative analysis, estimating the total 

 lime, and also the proportion soluble in 1 per cent citric acid, which we must suppose 

 indicates approximately the amount readily available to plants. We may insert the 

 analysis of a few of these, since the placing on record of the data will make them 

 available for future reference. 



Labelle County, Quebec. — Three clay soils sent by the Hon. W. Owens, Monte- 

 bello, and considered as deficient in lime : — 



Total Lime. Available Lime* 



No. 1 -462 -448 



No. 2 -791 -089 



No. 3 -679 -116 



No. 1. This appears to be a fairly good soil, though capable of improvement, pro- 

 bably by judicious culture. It contains a considerable amount of humus (organic 

 matter) and nitrogen, and I should judge, is by no means deficient in the other ele- 

 ments of plant food. 



Regarding its lime content — the chief object of this inquiry — our results show a 

 fair, though not large, percentage. Analysis further indicates that by far the larger 

 quantity of this lime is in a more or less readily available condition. Though one 

 cannot speak positively, the data do not indicate that the soil stands in need of a dress- 

 ing of lime. 



No. 2 and No. 3. Clay loams are similar soils, though I should consider the latter 

 somewhat the more refractory of the two. Both, in my opinion, would be benefited by 

 an organic manure (barn-yard manure or clover turned under) and an application of 

 lime. It will be noticed that, though these soils contain a larger percentage of total 

 lime than No. 1, their percentage of available lime is very much less. They give a 

 faintly acid reaction to litmus paper, a fact which confirms the deduction from the 

 available lime estimation. From a mechanical as well as a chemical standpoint, I 

 think lime would improve these soils. 



Enderby, Kamloops Division, E. Yale, B.C. — The soil is a stiff clay, and is describ- 

 ed by Mr. Frank Hazard, who sends the sample, as 'rich wheat land, giving heavy crops.' 

 It is, however, ' very difficult to work, and can only be ploughed in dry weather. It 

 breaks down with the frost.' When received at the laboratory, it had dried into hard, 

 refractory lumps and masses. Information is sought as to what may be added to the 

 toil to improve its texture and render it more easily worked. 



A partial analysis afforded the following data : — 



Moisture 7-18 



Organic and volatile matter 10-59 



Oxide of iron and alumina 24-08 



Lime 1-21 



Nitrogen in organic matter -301 



