EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



G49 



TABLE 15.— SALT CONTENT OF MUCK. 



The high concentration of the salts at the surface indicated that the 

 retarded growth of the onions was due to this factor. Accordingly 

 samples were taken to the laboratory and Canada Field Pea seedlings 

 placed in washed and unwashed soil. One part of the soil was washed 

 with 5 parts of distilled water. The water content of the soil cultures was 

 uniform and maintained so by daily additions according to the usual prac- 

 tice of conducting such studies. The cultures were placed in the east side 

 of a well lighted laboratory. After ten days the seedlings were dead 

 in the unwashed soil, no growth of roots having taken place wliile in the 

 washed soil the roots had attained two and one-half inches in length 

 with numerous laterals and the stems had grown to be two inches in 

 length. We concluded from these results that the salt content in the 

 surface layer of muck was too great for proper plant development. 



The soluble salt content of samples taken from different laj^ers of 

 three muck deposits was determined. The results are reported in table IG. 



