FERTILIZERS ON SANDY SOIL — SMITH. 128 



PART I. 

 'The Physical and Chemical Properties of the Soil — Its 



RELATION to MaNURE. 



Johnson classifies the physical properties of the soil as follows : 

 1. Weight of soil : 2. State of division ; 3. Hygroscopic capacity ; 

 4. Power of condensing gases ; 5. Power of fixing solids from 

 ■solution ; 6. Capillary powder ; 7. Change of bulk on drying ; 

 8. Adhesiveness ; 9. Relations to heat. 



These properties of our soil are now under investigation. We 

 may point out certain' peculiarities, however. It is very fine 

 silicious sand, so fine that it is scarcely gritty. When crops are 

 suffering from drought on other soils in .the same locality, those . 

 on our soil do not seem affected to such a degree. Not much 

 change of bulk takes place on drying. (?) It is not adhesive and 

 is a very w^arm soil. Although we have had the farm only two 

 years, it shows marked effects the second year from the applica- 

 tion of fertilizers the first. These are the indications as to the 

 physical characters of the soil ; they may be consideraljl}' modi- 

 fied by analysis. 



The chemical composition of the soil cannot now be discussed 

 further than to call attention to facts directly used in this paper> 

 discarding the so-called inert material of the soil for the present. 



Nitrogen is found in soils in the form of ammonia, nitrates 

 and insoluble organic compounds. The ammonia usually exists 

 in the soil either as double salts w^ith insoluble bases or as double 

 silicates. A small amount always exists in solution, as it is 

 during the warmer season constantly being formed, or absorbed. 



Nitrates probably exist in the soil in the form of nitrates of 

 potash, ammonia, soda, lime and magnesia. The insoluble forms 

 •of Nitrogen are in most cases not available unless converted into 

 ^ammonia or nitrates. 



Nitrates are not fixed Ijy the soil like the ammonia, ]:)ut exist 

 there for the most part as freely soluble. 



Phosphoric acid, although so important to the plant, occurs 

 ver}^ sparingly in the soil. It is there in the form of lime, iron, 

 magnesia, and aluminium phosphates, all more or less insoluble. 



