162 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Soil No. 5. — Also from the district of Alberni, but differing from No. 4 in certain 

 Important features. It is known locally as " fern and sallal " soil, for the reason that 

 on this virgin soil these plants grow most luxuriantly, crowding out to a great extent 

 other vegetation. Our correspondent writes that at first this soil gives but poor returns, 

 but after several ploughings, i.e., several seasons working, the yield increases, and good 

 crops are obtained. An examination of the soil showed it to be distinctly acid to litmus 

 paper. There is in this, no doubt, an indication of the cause of the unproductiveness of 

 the land when first broken up. The effect of exposure to the air through culture would 

 be to correct this sourness, while at the same time locked-up plant food would be set free. 

 Lime and wood ashes have given excellent returns on this soil. 



The very large percentage of oxide of iron in these soils — exceeding, frequently, 20 

 per cent — is a feature worthy of note. It is probable that in the virgin soil a part of 

 this iron is in the ferrous condition, due to the presence of organic matter and to certain 

 othor factors. The oxidizing of this iron through cultural methods would free the soil 

 of compounds injurious to the teinder rootlets of agricultural crops. It is further 

 important to point out that this soil, though yielding 1-0 per cent of lime to hydro- 

 chloric acid, sp. gr. 1*115, had a distinctly acid reaction, and was much benefited by an 

 application of lime. 



Soil No. 6. — A bench soil, deep red, of sandy character, from Cowichan, Island of 

 Vancouver, and very similar in appearance to Nos. 4 and 5. It contains less organic 

 matter and nitrogen than these soils, and while somewhat below the average in this 

 respect, it is not to be regarded as deficient in these essential elements. 



A determination of the amounts of available potash and phosphoric acid, ascer- 

 tained by the citric acid method, afforded the following data : — 



Available potash • 0089 



Available phosphoric acid • 0171 



While these amounts do not fall below the limits named by Dr. Dyer, they are, 

 however, such as to suggest that both potash and phosphoric acid would prove beneficial, 

 and give good returns in increased crop yields. 



Soil No. 7. — A grayish-black soil of excellent texture, from the valley of the Fraser 

 River near one of its mouths, and resulting from the deposition of silt brought down by 

 this river. An area of over 30 square miles is, it is stated, covered by soil of this origin 

 and character. Both from chemical and physical data, this soil would be judged an 

 extremely fertile one, and practical results confirm this opinion. Of phosphoric acid, 

 potash and nitrogen it possesses quantities considerably above the averages already 

 discussed for fertile soils. 



Soil No. 8. — From the Squamish Valley, in the district of New Westminster. The 

 valley is said to have an area of 14,000 acres of arable land. Its sub- soil is clay, though 

 sometimes running into sand. Though containing adequate amounts of mineral food 

 for crop requirements, it is below the average in nitrogen and humus. The ploughing 

 under of green crops — preferably one of the legumes— ;-has been found to improve this 

 soil, both as regards tilth and productive power. 



Soil No. 9. — From the Pitt Meadows, New Westminster, an alluvial deposit, com- 

 posed of the detritus brought down by the Pitt River. It is a black loam, in moderately 

 fine granular condition, and possessing a large amount of vegetable organic matter. On 

 moistening it does not become plastic or sticky, and easily crumbles when dry. The 

 soil granules display a remarkable homogeneity, proving the very intimate incorporation 

 of the vegetable organic matter with the inorganic basis of the soil. 



Its mechanical texture seems to be such as would allow freedom for root develop- 

 ment, for permeation of air and percolation of water, while at the same time it is 

 sufficiently compact and heavy to prevent easy leaching and to be retentive of moisture. 



In potash and phosphoric acid it is seen to be well supplied, comparing most 

 favourably in this respect with soils of great productiveness. 



