ri 



EXPERDIEXT STATION. 



[Jan. 



The treatment of the soil the second year consisted in spading 

 in a heavy Layer of horse manure and in worlcing into the soil 

 the availahle ])ortion of the mannre which was used in the 

 trenches for heat the previous year. Trenching with manure 

 for und(>rground heat was again resorted to, and the nitrate of 

 soda and chemical fertilizers were used as in the previous year. 

 This general treatment is followed for each successive crop until 

 the result is a crop failure. 



Cliemical A naJysis of Such Soils. — In the following table 

 is given a chemical analysis of a soil which had served for three 

 successive years in a greenhouse for cncMnnhers. In ordcn- that 

 any one unfamiliar with the interpretation of soil analyses may 

 understand the extent to which the plant food has accumulated, 

 the average analysis of 38 samples of barnyard manure is given 

 for comparison. 



Analysis 

 of Barnj'ard 



Manure, 

 Average of 

 38 Samples. 



Moisture, 

 Organic matter, . 

 Nitrogen, 

 Potash, 



Phosphoric acid. 

 Calcium oxide, . 

 Sodium oxide. 

 Magnesium oxide, 



7.3.38 



.42 

 .53 

 .31 



The above results show the cucuml)er soil to be considerably 

 richer in nitrogen and phos]i]ioric acid than are the better 

 grades of mixed farm manures. Although this large amount 

 of lolal plnnt food in the soil may be an hnUcnilon that the soil 

 is too fertile, yet it is probable that the injurious effect is due 

 to the soluble or active portion of the constituents present. 



Composition of Normal and Ahnormnl Soils. — Occasion is 

 here taken to bring together some results of analyses of abnor- 

 mal and normal cucumber soils. The abnormal soils were all 

 sent at various times by parties having trouble with their crops, 



