62 



Besides these six samples of soil from Rio Grande, N. J., analyses Lave been made 

 of several other soils upoii which sorghum was grown the past year, as follows : 



G. Grounds of the Department of Agriculture. The recent treatment of this plot is 

 given in the annual reports of the past three years. The sample for analysis was 

 taken November, 188'2. 



H. Soil Xo. I Great Bend, Kans. This soil has been cultivated for six years. The 

 yield was 10| tons stalks per acre. No fertilizer used. 



I. Soil No. 2 Great- Send, Kans. This soil was plowed for the first time. The yield 

 per acre was 8 tons of stalks. No fertilizers were used. 



J. Soils from Rising City,Nebr., upon which 1<S tons per acre of sugar-beets were 

 grown, which gave, on analysts, an average of 12 27 per cent, of sugar in the juice. 



K. Soil from HutcMnson, Kans. Yield of sprgiium, 6 tons stalks per acre. 



L. Soil from Sterling, Kans. Under cultivation for three years in cereal crops. A 

 black, sandy loam. Average yield per acre, 7 tons stalks. 



M. Soil from Sterling. Kans. A black, sandy loam. Under cultivation for seven 

 years with crops of cereals. Crop very promising, but destroyed by hail. 



N. Soil from Sterling, Kans. Black, sandy loam. Under cultivation for five years 

 in cereal crops. Average yield per acre, 12 tons of stalks. 



O. Soil from Sterling, Kans. A strictly sandy soil ; in cereals for five years. Aver- 

 age yield per acre, 10 tons of stalks. 



Per cent, of soil* passed through sieves. 



So far as the partial mechanical analysis goes it quite fails to throw any light upon 

 the cause of the very wide difference in the crops grown upon the Rio Grande soils. 



For example, the soils C, D, F are very much alike, and jet their respective yields 

 per acre in tons of stalks were 7|, 8, and 17. It is obvious that much of this might 

 have been due to difference in cultivation, but it does not appear that there was prac- 

 tically any difference in this respect. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SOILS. 



The following table shows the results of the chemical analysis of the several soils 

 The absence of other than mere traces of chlorine in the Rio Grande soils is remarkable^ 

 in view of the fact that these fields were lying within a few hundred yards of the 

 ocean. It is possible that the heavy fall rains had leached such compounds below the 

 surface, from which aloue the samples were taken for analysis. It is intended to make 

 still further examination of the subsoils of these several fields, for it may be that sorg- 

 linin, being through its root system a deep feeder, will account for good crops of cane 

 upon land which failed to grow good crops of other kinds : 



