■546 



On Liquid Manure. 



following analysis, wliicli I recently made of a soil and its sub- 

 soil of moderately retentive and naturally very fertile properties. 

 This soil and subsoil contained in 100 parts : — 



Surface soil. Subsoil. 



* Organic matter and water of combination . . 4"3H 2",59 



Alumina 2' 15 5*39 



Oxides of iron .. 3' 15 7*16 



Lime "77 '26 



Magnesia -13 1-22 



Totasli -49 -88 



Soda .. .. -IS -28 



Phosplioric acid -12 -19 



Clilorine trace. trace. 



Carbonic acid '31 1'79 



Insoluble silicates and sand . .. .. 88'31 80-24 



Consisting of — 



Silicic acid 85-11 62-61 



Alumina 2*36 14-55 



Lime '85 



Magnesia -50 -23 



Potash -25 1-77 



Soda -09 -21. 



100-00 



100-00 



* Containing nitrogen 

 Equal to ammonia 



•182 

 •220 



•09 

 •11 



Submitted to a mechanical analysis these soils furnished 



Surface-soil. Subsoil. 



Sand 76-16 55-15 



Clay 18-09 41-79 



Lime, magnesia, &cc 1-37 -47 



Organic matter 4-38 2-59 



100-00 



100-00 



The surface soil, it will be noticed, contains a considerable 

 proportion of sand, whilst the subsoil contains less sand and 

 more clay. We have here an example of a friable loamy soil 

 resting on a stiffish clay suijsoil. 



It will be observed that the surface soil abounds in all the 

 mineral matters which are required by cultivated plants, and 

 also contains an appreciable quantity of nitrogenized organic 

 matters. If we calculate the total amount of the available fer- 

 tilising substances for a depth of soil of only 10 inches, we shall 

 find a quantity of mineral and organic fertilising matters, in 

 comparison with which the amount of manuring ccmstituents 

 supplied in 50,000 gallons of liquid manure (even more concen- 

 trated than Mr. Mechi's tank-liquid) appears altogether insignifi- 

 cant. I believe this to be the chief reason why little benefit 

 results from the application of liquid manure to clay soils and 

 fertile friable loams. It may be said, if tliese soils abound in 



