CONTENTS xin 



CHAPTER VIII 



THE POWER OF THE SOIL TO ABSORB SALTS 



PACE 



Retention of Manures by the Soil The Absorption of 

 Ammonia and its Salts ; of Potash ; of Phosphoric 

 Acid Chemical and Physical Agencies at Work 

 The Non-Retention of Nitrates The Composition of 

 Drainage Waters Loss of Nitrates by the Land 

 Time of Application of Manures. . . . 247 



CHAPTER IX 



CAUSES OF FERTILITY AND STERILITY OF SOILS 



Meaning of Fertility and Condition " Fairy Rings " 

 Causes of Sterility : Drought, Waterlogging, Presence 

 of Injurious Salts Alkali Soils and Irrigation Water- 

 Effect of Fertilisers upon the Texture of the Soil 

 The Amelioration of Soils by Warping, Liming, Marl- 

 ing, Claying, Paring, and Burning The Reclamation 

 of Peat and Heath Land ..... 271 



CHAPTER X 



SOIL TYPES 



Classification of Soils according to their Physical or 

 Chemical Nature Geological Origin the Basis of 

 Classification Vegetation characteristic of Various 

 Soil Types : Physical Structure, Chemical Composition, 

 Natural Flora and Weeds characteristic of Sands, 

 Loams, Calcareous Soils, Clays, Peat, Marsh, and Salt 

 Soils Soil Surveys, their Execution and Application . 315 



APPENDICES 



Appendix I. Analyses of some Typical Soils . 342 



II. Bibliography ..... 344 



Index ........ 347 



