Soda-Salfs in Agriculture. 305 



with cliloiide of potassium, absorbed 3*578 grains of potash per 

 1000 of soil. This, no doubt, is one of the reasons why soda- 

 saks as a class are far less energetic manures than their corres- 

 ponding potash-salts. If a soil is manured with common salt 

 and by the action of rain a dilute solution of salt is produced, a 

 good deal of the salt will remain undecomposed in the ground. 

 In the moist soil the salt exercises but a weak influence, which, 

 however, produces a sufficiently marked effect upon the produce 

 in the long run. 



Experiment No. 2. — With a Stiff Clay Soil. 



This soil was poor in lime, and contained but little sand, 

 capable of being separated by washing and decantation. It 

 furnished, on analysis, the following results : — 



Mechanical Analysis. 



Moisture 3-91 



Organic matter and water of combination .. .. 4*80 



Clay 78-13 



Lime 2-19 



Sand 10-97 



100-00 

 Chemical Analysis. 



Moisture 3-91 



Organic matter and water of combination . . . . 4-80 



Oxides of iron and alumina 7*85 



Phosphoric acid '04 



Carbonate of lime 2-08 



Sulphate of lime -15 



Magnesia , 



.09 

 Alkalies and loss '' "^ 



Insoluble silicious matter 80-85 



\ 



100-00 



Four deci-gallons of the salt-solution, after four days' contact 

 with the soil, contained : — 



Grains. 



Soluble silica -36 



Oxides of iron and alumina -28 



Chloride of sodium 34*88 



Chloride of potassium 1*80 



Chloride of magnesium 1-35 



Chloride of calcium 3-80 



Sulphate of lime 1-36 



Phosphoric acid -08 



43-91 



The total amount of chlorine found in the liquid after filtration 



X 2 



