i9i;^.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 



77 



badly from some cause. Dr. Stone, the plant pathologist, ex- 

 amined sjiccimens of the jdants nnder the microscope, but failed 

 to lind them sufFeriiig from any disease caused by bacteria, and 

 sugg'ested a chemical examination of the soil. 



The soils were washed out with hot water, and after the 

 water solution had been evaporated to dryness an analysis was 

 made of the residue. The average results have been figured to 

 100 parts of dry matter for the sake of comparison. 



Total water soluble salines, 

 Soluble nitrogen, 

 Soluble potash, . 

 Soluble phosphoric acid, 

 Soluble calcium oxide (lime), 

 Soluble magnesium oxide. 

 Soluble sodium oxide. 



In the following table the above results have been calculated 

 so as to express the amount of constituents present in pounds 

 per acre foot with normal soil moisture (20 per cent.) : — 



These figures show the affected soil to contain a considerably 

 larger amount of total soluble salines and, with the exception 

 of nitrogen, a larger amount of the individual soluble mineral 



