10 



ill the surface layers' than at two to three metres affords every indi- 

 cation that, with suitable drains, reclamation would be easy and rapid. 



The organic c;i,rl)on was determined by wet combustdon with 

 chromic acid after decomposition of carbonates, any hydrochloric 

 acid (from the chlorides present) was removed by silver sulphate. 



Soluble in 1 per Cent Citric Acid (Dvcr). 



C 

 The ratio seems to show that the decomposition of non-nitrogenous 



material proceeds more rapidly in the lighter soil whether at the 

 surface or at a depth of two to three metres. 



The ratio 



Loss on ignition 

 C 



shows that in the sandy soils a larger 



proportion of the loss on ignition is due to organic matter and a lesser 

 proportion to " Combined Water." This is entirely in accordance 

 with experience, since it is the finer particles of the soil (fine silt and 

 clay) which are composed of hydrated compounds, while the sand 

 (coarse or fine) is almost entirely composed of silica containing little 

 combined water. 



SUMMAKY. 



(1) The soil of an area of 30,000 feddans has been examined 

 to a depth of three metres. 



(2) The amount of soluble salts has been shown to be not excessive 

 (Table VI) and sodium carbonate was rarely met with. 



