154 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



It is of a slatey-gray colour, very similar to clay in consistency when wet. On 

 exposure to the air it dries into somewhat hard masses. 



Analysis of (air-dried) Mud. 



Moisture 2-06 



Organic and volatile matter 4 "86 



Clay and sand (insoluble in acid) 83 -44 



Oxide of iron and alumina 5 *92 



Lime 1 -02 



Magnesia # 70 



Potash -01 



Phosphoric acid *19 



Common salt 1-80 



100 -00 



Nitrogen, in organic matter *215 



The percentages of the essential elements of plant food — nitrogen, phosphoric acid, 

 and potash — are so small that we should not feel justified in advising the use of this 

 deposit as a fertilizer. It is quite possible that it might be applied beneficially to cer- 

 tain soils, but the advantage would be from its mechanical, rather than its manurial, 

 effect. 



The amounts of nitrogen and phosphoric acid are very similar to those found in 

 fairly good soils, but the percentage of potash is extremely small. There is a notable, 

 though not large, percentage of lime, which no doubt would give the deposit a value 

 for soils deficient in this element. Owing to the, comparatively speaking, large 

 amount of salt and the fact that the mud dried into hard lumps, we think its trial 

 should be made with care and at first only on a limited scale. 



MARL AND LIMESTONE. 



There are many soils in Canada capable of improvement by the judicious use of 

 lime. As this fact becomes better recognized we not only receive inquiries respecting 

 the application of this amendment, but also many specimens of marl and limestone for 

 report as to their lime-content. In districts where lime is scarce, or expensive by 

 reason of long freightage, and deposits of marl (carbonate of lime) occur, this latter 

 material may be advantageously employed as a source of lime, either as a direct applica- 

 tion to the soil or after burning. Again, it frequently happens that neither lime n#r 

 marl is easily procurable, and then information is sought as to the character of the 

 rock in the neighbourhood, with a view to the possible production of lime by burning. 



The majority of the samples so received have been reported upon simply from a 

 preliminary examination — this being considered to afford sufficient information for the 

 purpose. A few of them, however, have, for special reasons, received a more or less 

 complete analysis, and the results so obtained are here inserted. 



Marl. 



British Columbia. — A sample forwarded from Spallumcheen Valley, B.C., by Mr. 

 Donald Graham, of Armstrong, furnished the following data : — 



p. c 



Insoluble rock matter 23 -11 



Carbonate of lime 52-68 



Organic matter, oxide of iron, &c. (undetermined) 24 -21 



100 -00 



