328 The Shrinkage of Soils 



combined contents of fine silt and clay as determined by the methods 

 of physical analysis. 



In the following table these values have been calculated in the case of 

 samples A to E referred to in the first part of this paper and also in the 

 case of 16 additional samples of soil drawn from different parts of the 

 Leeward Islands Colony. In this connection it is well to state that as 

 the shrinkage determination has been performed on the fine earth samples 

 of the soils in question, from which all particles having a diameter larger 

 than 1 milhmetre have been removed, the contents of fine silt and 

 clay have in consequence been recalculated to the fine earth basis. 



Examination of the above results will show that in all cases the 

 contents of colloidal clay, as calculated from the linear shrinkage by 

 means of the employment of the factor in question, are less than the 

 total content of fine silt and clay as determined by physical analysis, 

 thus strengthening the conclusion already drawn ; it is however 

 interesting to observe that in the case of certain soils notably A, B, 

 and Nos. 14, 15 and 16, the contents of colloidal clay approach very 

 closely to the total content of fine silt and clay; it is to be remarked 

 that in the case of all these soils they are particularly difficult to work 

 especially in very wet or very dry weather. 



