728 CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OP* SOIL-FEHTILITY, xiv., 



Experiment ii. — Six kilograms of soil containing 10'8% of 

 moisture were sifted, and treated with 60 c.c. of chloroform for 

 24 hours. The soil was aired for 24 hours, and divided into two 

 parts, one of which was j)ut into a jar with a loose cover; the 

 othei' was put into an open jar, and the moisture brought up to 

 10%. 



The chloroform was estimated from time to time, due allow- 

 ance being made for the experimental error by testing an un- 

 treated soil in the same manner. The error, using different 

 samples of the same, untreated soil, was equivalent to "25 c.c. of 

 silver nitrate, and this has been deducted from the results. 



Another sample of air-dried soil was treated with 2% of 

 chloroform, and after treatment for a day, the disinfectant was 

 aired off for twenty hours. The soil was then stored in a jar 

 with a loose lid, and tested from time to time. As in the pre- 

 vious experiment, due allowance was made for the experimental 

 error. 



One day after storing 

 Four days 

 Twenty-one days 

 Twenty-nine days 



Chloroform detected in milligrams 

 per 100 grams of air-dr}- soil. 



6-9 

 4-5 

 1-9 

 1-9 



It is clear that there is an appreciable quantity of chloroform 

 retained by the soil. In the case of the damp sample containing 



