REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 151 



If it then be further assumed that the digestibility of tlie two samples be equal — an 

 assumption that gives a slight benefit to the poorer and more fibrous of the feeds — the 

 following calculations will show their relative values as foods : — 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Albuminoids 12-08 9 17 



Fat 5-27 4-42 



17-35 13-59 



2-5 2-5 



86-75 6-795 



347-0 27-18 



43-375 33-975 

 Carbo-hydrates 63-72 62-86 



Food units 107-09 96-83 



This shows that 1 ton of No. 1 is equal in food value to 1 ton 212 pounds of 

 No. 2. 



Supposing the value of No. 1 to be $20 per ton of 2,000 pounds, the value of 1 ton 

 of sample No. 2 would be $18.08. 



CANADIAN SOILS. 



As explained in the letter of transmittal to this report, we here present the results 

 obtained on certain samples sent by farmers for examination during the past year and 

 a paper containing complete data on the virgin soils of the Dominion examined by us 

 during the past nine years. 



The following extracts, from reports furnished the farmers forwarding the soils, are 

 here inserted for the purpose of informing our readers respecting the nature of the 

 examination we make of cultivated soils and of the suggestions oflered for the econo- 

 mical treatment of such lands : — 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



SoUs from Enderby and Bear Valley, B.C., forwarded by the Department of 

 Agriculture, Victoria, B.C. 



Sample from the farm of John Bacon, near Enderby. This soil is rather of the 

 nature of a deposit for it is reported by Mr. Palmer, Inspector of Fruit Pests for 

 British Columbia, as issuing from a hillside. It subsequently hardens by simple exposure. 

 From the vigorous growth of the vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the deposit, 

 Mr. Palmer considered that it might be of importance as a fertilizer. 



This sample was received in two parts, one representing the moist, fresh material ; 

 the other, indicative of its character af cer exposure. Both were similar in their com- 

 position, save for the larger percentage of water in the former. 



A quantitative examination of the air-dried portion furnished the following data : — 



Insoluble mineral matter 09 



Carbonate of lime 94 • 08 



Moisture, oxide of iron, alumina, &c 5-83 



100-00 



