22H WHEAT SOILS OK THK ALKXANDRIA DIVISION. 



more of the latter tlian No. 4 does, clue, no doubt, to the treat- 

 ment with superphosphates which the lands had received. Potash 

 and nitrogen are both present in smaller quantity in No. 3 than 

 in No. 4, and these lands are therefore in need of all-round 

 manuring. Basic slag would, at the same time, supply lime and 

 phosphates, and correct the acidity of the soil. 



Xos. 5 and 6 are also very poor in phosphates, and contain 

 very little potash — the cultivated soil in particular. Both have 

 fair projjortions of nitrogen, and in No. 5 the amount of lime 

 is quite satisfactory. I'hosphatic fertilisers are very necessary 

 here, and in this connection it must be remembered that in soils 

 containing so little clay, readily soluble fertilisers like super- 

 phosphates are easily washed out again ; besides, basic slag would 

 be more suitable than acid superphosphates on soils which are 

 already, as stated, to some extent acid. 



In Nos. 7 and 8 there are good quantities both of nitrogen 

 and phosphates, but potash is rather poor, and lime, though 

 present in abundance in the highly calcareous virgin soil, is more 

 moderate in amount in the cultivated soil No. 7. Potash manures 

 are particularly required here, and during these days of potash 

 scarcity, anything capable of yielding potash should be pressed 

 into service, such as kraal manure and its ash, the ashes of leaves 

 generally, and wool washery refuse, if procurable. 



Nos. 9 and 10 are sandy soils, very i)oor both in potash and 

 phosi)hates. and in serious need of fertilising in these directions. 

 Magnesia, too, is present in very small quantity, though quite 

 fufficient for wheat crops. 



The lands represented by Nos. 11 and 12 are pcrliaps the 

 best of the Avhole series, from a chemical point of \iew. The 

 soil is a dark grey sandy loam, almost entirely (i.e.. 91 to 95 

 per cent. ) composed of grains smaller in diameter than one-fourth 

 of a millimetre, and containing from 20 to 30 per cent, of silt 

 and clay. The proportions of nitrogen and phosphates in both 

 these soils are good, and both are rich lime soils, especially No. 

 12, which, like No. 8, is highly calcareous. Potash, too, is satis- 

 factory in amount, and magnesia, in these soils alone out of the 

 whole series, is present in precisely the same proportion in both 

 cultivated and virgin soils. In every other case, except Nos. 

 T9 and 20, there is less magnesia in the cultivated than in the 

 virgin soil. It will be noticed that the soils which are specially 

 calcareous. Nos. 8 and 12. are situated on a stri]) some eight 

 miles long near the south-east coast of .Mexandria dixision. 



.\os. 9, 10, 13 and 14, which are also well su))i)lie(l with 

 lime, lie between the area last mentioned and Alexandria Town 

 Commonage, immediately to the south of the latter. The virgin 

 >oil. No. 14, has likewise a good i)ercentage of nitrogen, but 

 the cultivated soil, No. 13, though not inadequately sup])lied. has 

 a smaller pro])orti(jn. Potash is present in moderate amount. 



