REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 165 



The surface soil, which is fairly uniform throughout its depth, averages a little over 

 two feet in thickness and merges gradually into the subsoil, which is blue clay. The 

 latter, as tested by boring for water at this spot, extends at least to a depth of 250 feet. 



The soil is a deep black loam, of a fine and peculiarly characteristic granular order. 

 It reduces easily between the fingers in the air-dried condition to a grayish brown 

 powder. Though there is present a considerable amount of undecomposed root-fibre, 

 the soil proper exhibits a remarkable homogeneity, indicating a process of physical 

 refining in its formation and a uniformity in the chemical composition. The very large 

 amount of organic matter present is undoubtedly most intimately incorporated with the 

 clay and sand which constitutes the basis of the soil. 



Though containing a large amount of clay, laboratory experiments show that this 

 soil does not readily " puddle " on moistening, nor on subsequent drying does it form 

 into a hard mass, bat readily granulates on slight pressure. The large amount of 

 organic matter present has already been remarked ; it exceeds 25 per cent of the water- 

 free soil. The nitrogen is found to be practically 1 per cent, which would show that 

 there is contained in an acre of soil to the depth of 1 foot more than 30,000 pounds of 

 this element. Since ordinary fertile soils to a like depth contain from 3,500 to 10,000 

 pounds of nitrogen per acre, the vast reserve of this valuable constituent in this prairie 

 soil is apparent. 



The soil is also very rich in potash, containing an amount far in excess of that ordin- 

 arily met with in fertile soils. But two other virgin soils examined by us approach its 

 potash content, 1 -03 per cent. 



Of phosphoric acid it contains 0-29 per cent. This is somewhat above the average, 

 most of our good soils showing between 0-15 per cent and 0-25 per cent phosphoric acid. 



We may safely conclude that there is here ample scientific proof of the well-nigh 

 inexhaustible stores of plant food, and that this prairie land, as regards the elements of 

 fertility, ranks with the richest of known soils. 



Concerning the prairie soil of the Red River Valley, Dr. Geo. M. Dawson, Director 

 of the Geological Survey of Canada, wrote some years ago as follows ; — 



" Of the alluvial prairie of the Red River much has already been said, and the uni- 

 form fertility of its soil cannot be exaggerated. The surface, for a depth of two or four 

 feet, is a dark mould, composed of the same material as the subsoil, but mingled with 

 much vegetable matter. Its dark colour is no doubt due in part to the general accumu- 

 lation of the charred grasses left by the prairie fires. The soil may be said to be ready 

 for the plough, and in turning the tough thick prairie sod, the first year a crop of pota- 

 toes may be put in, though it is not efficiently broken up till it has beeti subjected to a 

 winter's frost. When the sod has rotted, the soil appears as a light friable mould, easily 

 worked and most favourable for agriculture. The marly alluvium underlying the vege- 

 able mould would, in most countries, be considered a soil of the best quality, and the 

 fertility of the ground may, therefore, be considered as practically inexhaustible. 



" The area of this lowest prairie has been approximately stated as 6,900 square miles 

 but the whole is not at present suitable for agriculture. Small swamps are scattered 

 pretty uniformly over its surface. The greater part of these swamps are, however, so 

 situated as to be easily drained, either into the Red River or some of its tributaries, 

 which are usually depressed 30 or 40 feet below the level of the surface. 



"As a measure of the possible agricultural capacity of this great valley, take one- 

 half of the entire area, or 3,400 square miles, equalling 2,176,000 acres, and for simpli- 

 city of calculation, let it be supposed to be sown entirely in wheat, then at the rate of 

 1 7 bushels per acre, which according to Prof. Thomas, is the average yield for Minne- 

 sota, the crop of the Red River valley would amount to 40,992,000 bushels." 



ONTARIO. 



The review of soils in this province will be restricted to certain surface and subsoil 

 samples collected in the district of Muskoka a district lying somewhat more than 

 100 miles to the north of Toronto, and considered for the most part, more picturesque than 

 agricultural ; it is rocky and abounding in lakes, well timbered, save where destructive 



