168 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Soil No. 56. — A surface soil from the county of Bonaventure. A reddish yello-w 

 loam, containing a slight preponderance of sand. The large amount of iron present masks 

 the presence of the organic matter, of which there is a notably high percentage. Not 

 unfrequently, indeed, one may say usually, a rough estimate of the organic matter, 

 and, incidentally, of the nitrogen, present, can be made from the colour of the air-dried 

 soil. In soils, however, such as the one under discussion, containing high percentages of 

 iron, the colour can no longer be used as a crioerion of the soil's richness in these 

 constituents. 



Much variation, as might be expected, in character and composition is to be 

 observed among these soils. Though several possess but small amounts of certain con- 

 stituents, indicating inadequate quantities for the best returns, yet none fall below the 

 limits of fertility previously discussed, and many are seen to compare most favourably 

 with soils of recognized productiveness. 



THE MARITIME PROVINCES. 



The soils from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia examined by us have been so few 

 in number that it would be unwise to draw from the data conclusions as to the general 

 character of the soils of these provinces. A few examples are here given which, though 

 representative of large areas, must not be considered as the only provincial types ; the 

 figures are inserted here to render the data somewhat more complete than they other- 

 wise would be. 



TABLE VI. 



ANALYSES OP SOILS (wATER FREE) — MARITIME PROVINCES. 



NEW BRUNSWICK. 



Soil No. 57. — From the Sackville Marsh, at the head of the Bay of Fundy. A clay 

 loam ; of interest as an example of a soU area very uniform in character — a fact no doubt 

 due to the origin of the soil, which is practically a tidal deposit. When thoroughly 

 drained, an operation which frees them from salt and improves their texture, these reclaimed 

 marsh soils are found to be exceedingly fertile. A glance at the analytical data shows that 

 this is not altogether to be ascribed to large percentages of plant food ; it is more 

 than probable that the fine state of division and the intimate incorporation of the soil 

 particles — due to the manner of the soil's formation and deposit — render the elements 

 of fertility more easily obtained and assimilated by the plant. 



Soil No. 58. — Balmoral settlement, Restigouche. A yellow loam, derived principally 

 from the decomposition of felspar, through showing some quartz fragments. The 

 percentage of potash is considerably above that found in average fertile soils — a fact 

 undoubtedly due to the felspathic origin of the soil. With the exception of potash, 

 however, the soil cannot be considered one equal to Canadian soils of average fertility. 



