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LIBRARY 







THE OTTAWA r^ATURALIST. 



Vol. XIV. 



OTTAWA, JUNE, 1900. 



No. 3 



SOILS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR FERTILITY 

 THROUGH THE GROWTH OF LEGUMES. 



By Frank T. Shutt, M.A., F.I.C, F.C.S., F.R.S.C, 

 Chemist, Dominion Experimental Farms. 



Four years ago I had the honour to bring before the members 

 of the Montreal Natural History Society an account of the work 

 accomplished by the Chemical Division of the Experimental Farms 

 during the eight years that had passed since these valuable insti- 

 tutions, designed to promote the agricultural interests of Canada, 

 had been established by our Government.* In that brief review it 

 was shown that our chemical work praotically covered the whole 

 field of agriculture, and included the analysis of soils, naturally- 

 occurring fertilizers fodders, dairy products, insecticides and 

 fungicides, in addition to the carrying on of such investigations 

 in connection with economic plant and animal production as re- 

 quired the aid ot chemistry for their successful prosecution. 



On the present occasion, instead of making a general fesumd 

 of our researches and results, I purpose considering a single 

 branch of investigation, one that has been carried on in the fields 

 and laboratories of the Experimental Farm with signal success 

 and that has yielded results of the highest value to those who wish 

 to maintain or recover the productiveness of their land. I refer to 

 to the improvement of soils through the growth of legumes. 



* A lecture delivered in the Summerville Course (Montreal), April 1896, 

 and entitled " Chemical Work in Canadian Agriculture.'' 



