9 8 



THE FACTORS 



[Part I 



ANALYSIS OF ASH OF PINUS PINASTER ON DIFFERENT SOILS IN 

 THE FOREST OF CHAMPFETU (after Fliche and Grandeau). 



Pinus Pinaster. P. Laricio. 



The analysed sweet-chestnuts grew on the same soil as the maritime pines. In this case 

 leaves and wood were analysed separately. 



ANALYSIS OF ASH OF CASTANEA VESCA ON DIFFERENT SOILS 

 IN THE FOREST OF CHAMPFETU (after Fliche and Grandeau). 



Leaves. Wood. 



Silica 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Magnesia. 



Potash 



Soda 



Ferric oxide 



Sulphuric acid 



Chlorine . 



Total 



Ash % 



Silicious soil. 



5-79 

 12-32 



45-37 



6-63 

 21-67 



3-86 



1-07 



2-97 



0-30 



Calcareous soil. 

 1-46 

 12-50 



74-55 

 3-7o 

 576 

 o-66 

 0-83 

 o-oo 

 0-52 



Silicious soil. Calcareous soil. 



99-98 



4-80 



99.98 

 7-8o 



3.08 



4-53 

 73-26 



3-99 

 11-65 

 o-oo 

 2-04 

 i-43 



99.98 



4-74 



1-36 

 4-27 

 87-30 

 2-07 

 2-69 

 0-28 

 1-27 

 0-64 

 o-oS 



99.96 



5-7i 



The most striking point in these tabular statements is the great differ- 

 ence in the quantities of lime and potash. Trees grown on silicious soil 

 are much richer in potash and poorer in lime tliau those grozvn on 

 calcareous soil. 



The authors draw from these observations the conclusion that abundance 

 of lime in the soil retards the absorption of potash, whereas it accelerates 

 the absorption of lime and thereby produces an anomalous condition that 

 is prejudicial to the plants. 



The different percentages of ferric oxide in the ashes is perhaps significant, 

 although it is less striking on account of the small quantities under considera- 

 tion. Maritime pine and sweet-chestnut on calcareous soil are much poorer, 

 especially in their leaves, in ferric oxide than on silicious soil. If we consider 



