REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



153 



ONTARIO. 



Soils from Lefaivre, Alfred Tovjnship, Prescott Co., forwarded for examination by 

 Hon. Senator Owens. 



ANALYSES OF SOILS (aIR DRIED). 



No. 1. — A light gray loam, full of root fibres and containing very little sand. The 

 percentage of humus (decomposed vegetable matter) is small. The soil is strong and 

 retentive, but needs organic manures and lime to improve it. Of the former, barn-yard 

 manure and clover suggest themselves as the best. A composted muck would also be 

 found of great value in lightening the soU and adding to its store of humus and nitrogen. 

 The method of enrichment by means of clover or some other of the legumes is usually 

 the most economical to follow. The best time to plough under such a crop is when it is in 

 full bloom. Useful sources of lime are : lime, slaked or unslaked, marl (carbonate of lime), 

 and gypsum (sulphate of lime). On this kind of soil lime or marl would be the best to 

 use. Briefly, the most economical treatment may be outlined as follows : First, 

 thoroughly drain, then dress with lime or marl ; say one ton per acre of the former cr 

 twice the quantity of the latter, to which may be added with advantage 10 to 20 bushels 

 of wood ashes. If the seed bed has been well prepared, seed with clover, sowing 

 buckwheat or rye as a nurse crop. The first crop might be cut and fed, the aftermath, 

 when it had attained a good growth, should be turned under. 



No. 2. — This is a muck soil containing much of its vegetable matter in an unde- 

 composed condition. Thorough drainage, in order that it may become compact and 

 at the same time rendered sweet, is to be recommended. This should be followed 

 by an admixture, if possible, of the underlying subsoil. Lime, potash and phosphoric 

 acid are the chief essentials in which the soil is lacking. Wood ashes and super- 

 phosphate supply these in available forms. When sourness is corrected and tilth 

 improved by such a treatment as is now suggested, soils like this may be made very fertile, 

 though they are not best suited to grain crops. A small dressing of barn-yard manure, 

 to supply immediately available nitrogen, would undoubtedly be beneficial. 



No. S. — A good muck soU. Drainage, as in No. 2 is here to be strongly advised, in 

 order to correct sourness and aid in improving the tilth. Lime alone, or, still better, with 

 a certain quantity of wood ashes or some other form of potash, would undoubtedly prove 

 of value. Oats, buckwheat, potatoes and roots generally are, perhaps, the crops best 

 suited to this soil. 



No. Jf.. — A stiff clay loam, containing very little sand, and in general character 

 similar to No. 1. It, however, has not the same amount of root fibres, nor is it as rich 

 as No. 1 in humus and nitrogen. In lime also it is very low, the amount being less 

 than the lowest limit allowed by agricultural chemists for obtaining good returns. It 

 is of poor tilth and very hard when dry. Like No. 1, it should never be worked when 

 wet. In general treatment, the course suggested for No. 1 soil is here strictly 

 applicable. 



