BY E. H. GCRNEY. 



13 



The follb^'iug extreme figures referring to Victorian 

 •soils are taken from analyses given by Howell* : — 



Humus . . . . 0..50 per cent, and 18.55 per cent. 



Nitrogen ,. .. 0.008 per cent, and 1.08 per cent. 



It should be stated that the highest humus and nitrogen 

 mentioned refer to the same soil, and which, though 

 ft is not stated as such, is thought may be a reclaimed 

 swamp soil. The organic matter found in the Victorian 

 wheat soils ranges from 2.32 per cent, to 8.68 per cent. 



In connection with the soils of Xew South Wales the 

 following figures are from anahses given bj' Jensenj. 

 Volatile Matter from 0.84 per cent, to 18.99 per cent. 

 Nitrogen from 0.007 per cent, to 0.651 per cent. 



These figures do not include those given in connection 

 with marsh soils. 



For the purpose of easy comparison the extreme 

 figures previously mentioned in connection with humus, 

 volatile and organic matter, and nitrogen, are tabulated 

 below. 



Soils from 



Humus 



Volatile and 

 organic matter 



Nitrogen 



Queensland 



England (Kent, 



Surrey, Sussex) 



America 



, ., . ^ arid soil 

 Irrornia >, 



J humi 



Victoria 



Califor 



0.11 to 10.02 



New South Wales 



0.23 to 12.18 

 0.20 to 3.06 

 mid soils 0.94 to 7.83 



0.50 to 18.55J 



0.71 to 20.98 



1.66 to 17.16 



2.32 to 8.2811 

 0.84 to 18.99 



0.001 to 0.786 



0.033 to 0.633 



0.035 to 0.670 



0.049 to 0.514 



0.008 to 1.08t 



J 0.007 to 0.65i 



It is seen from this table that the amounts of humus, 

 volatile and organic matter, and nitrogen, in the soils of 

 Queensland vary greatl}', also that this variation is of a 

 ver^- similar nature to that occurring in the soils of other 

 countries. 



Thus though no comparison concerning the actual 

 amounts of plant food material, or amounts of available 

 plant food, occurring in the soils of the different countries 



*Soil Problems in Wheat Growing. F. J. HoweU. 

 fThe Soils of New South Wales. H. I. Jensen. 

 JMay be reclaimed marsh soil. 

 llWheat soils. 



