CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



411 



of these lauds for a<j;ricultural or grazing purposes, ou the experimental 

 farm at Grayling, Crawford county. Three specimens of soil from this 

 experimental farm are offered for inspection and one of marl from a lake 

 near by. By comparing No. 22, the soil in its natural condition, only fenced 

 in and protected from fire for three years, with Nos. 23 and 24 which have 

 been culitvated and enriched by plowing under the green crops raised 

 without manure (green manuring,) the changes in the physical appear- 

 ance and in chemical composition can be observed. The north field (No. 

 23) has raised successive crops of spurry, vetch and peas, which have been 

 plowed under. The south field (No. 24) has raised successive crops of 

 spurry, peas and red clover, all plowed under. 



No. 22. — Virgin soil from the experimental 

 farm at Grayling. 



Sand and Silicates 94.97 



Alumina 1.03 



Oxide of iron .86 



Limei._ .20 



Magnesia .12 



Potash .20 



Soda .90 



Sulphuric acid .06 



Phosphoric acid .05 



Organic matter containing .02 Nitro- 

 gen 1.61 



Water .23 



No. 23. — North field of the experimental 

 farm at Grayling. 



Sand and silicates 94.30 



Alumina .61 



Oxide of iron 1.17 



Lime .24 



Magnesia .17 



Potash .33 



Soda .58 



Sulphuric acid .05 



Phosphoric acid .04 



Organic matter containing .05 Nitro- 

 gen 2.50 



Water .20 



No. 24. — South field of the experimental 

 farm at Grayling. 



Sand and silicates 95.02 



Alumina .49 



Oxide of iron .78 



Lime .32 



Magnesia .15 



Potash .30 



Soda .62 



Sulphuric acid .05 



Phosphoric acid ,01 



Organic matter containing .04 nitro- 

 gen 2.25 



Water .21 



No. 25. — Marl from the lake. Grayling. 



Sand and silicates 1.90 



Alumina .14 



Oxide of iron .10 



Lime 45.16 



Magnesia .32 



Potash .37 



Soda 2.65 



Sulphuric acid .56 



Phosphoric acid .01 



Carbonic acid 43.10 



Organic matter containing .20 nitro- 

 gen 5.69 



Water .64 



V. Soils for special crops: Muck lands adapted to the growth of celery ^ 

 cranberries., peppermint, etc. Nos. 26 to 28. 



Of all our kinds of soil, swamp muck has been most conspicuously held 

 up to public opprobium. Nothing good was said about it; nothing too 

 bad could be said against it. Yet for certain kinds of crops it was found 

 the best land in the world, and the fame of Michigan celery has gone 

 into every state. 



No one who has tasted Kalamazoo celery will forget its fine flavor, 

 which has established its reputation far and wide. Many will look to the 

 composition of the soil on which it is grown as the typical one for raising 

 celery. 



