Sept. 10, 1917 



Formation of "Black Alkali'' 



569 



instance, with the highest concentration of sodium sulphate. The 

 sodium appeared, however, in the titrations as bicarbonate. The first 

 chemical change seemed to be the formation of the normal carbonate, 



Fio. ao.— Graphs showing the solubility of organic matter in soil in solutions o£ sodium sulphate. 



and while in this condition (the "nascent," or transition state, so to 

 speak, between the carbonate and bicarbonate) it reacted with the 

 organic matter and silica of the soil. Practically speaking, it was at 





Fig. ii.— Graphs showing the solubility of organic matter in soil in presence of mLxtures of sodium chlorid 



and sodium sulphate. 



this stage in a "nascent " state, and seemed to possess some of the proper- 

 ties of a "nascent" element. 



To test this point, a sample of soil was washed with dilute hydro- 

 chloric acid until the lime was all washed out. The soil was then washed 



