50 



In the soils of Field-cornetcy No. 3 phosphoric oxide averages better 

 than in the rest of the Division. Of this entire series Nos. 2 and 15 are 

 the worst; they show an all-round deficiency. The poorest soils in the 

 Division, from a chemical point of view, are those which represent the 

 Bontebok Vlakte : Nos. 2 and 15 have just been referred to; Nos. 1 and 

 16 lack potash and phosphoric oxide, and Nos. 17 and 18 are also badly 

 supplied with phosphates. 



The fertile soil of the Victoria orchard had not received any manure 

 for three years ; it is one of the best all-round soils met with in the course 

 of these investigations. In every respect its available plant food is satis- 

 factory : its nitrogen is good, the lime is normal in amount, and so is the 

 potash and phosphoric oxide. 



One of the sandier soils of the Division, No. 23, which represented 

 part of the incline towards the Thomas River on the farm Blackpool, 

 proved to be poor in nitrogen, lime, and phosphoric oxide, with but a 

 moderate amount of potash ; the failure of the barley and rye crops 19 

 thus explained, and here once more the analytical results bear out prac- 

 tical experience. The extent of doleritic soil to the east of this contains a 

 larger proportion of organic matter and more nitrogen, but less potash, 

 and is practically just as badly off for lime and phosphates. The produc- 

 tive potato lands represented by sample 11 are evidently fairly well sup- 

 plied with lime and potash, and also show a satisfactory nitrogen content, 

 but phosphoric oxide is low in amount. If potatoes be constantly grown 

 on this land, its reserve of potash, unless renewed artificially, would suffer 

 speedy exhaustion. 



CERES. 



(Privately collected.) 



No. Field Cornetcy. Farm or place. Collector. 



1. Ceres. Riet Vallei. Dr. R, J. Reinecke. 



2- j, 



o 



- )> 



^' ?> V 



5. Bokkeveld. The Oaks. 0. A. Ohlssou. 



6- ,, , 



7 



' > V 



Four samples of virgin soil were collected on the farm Riet Vallei, in 

 the outskirts of Ceres village, about half a mile east of the Dwars River. 

 At the particular places where the samples were taken, the soil had never 

 been cultivated or manured, and is overgrown with sour grass. The sur- 

 face soil is sandy and the subsoil clayey. In the locality in question soil of 

 this type, if well manured, is stated to have been found capable of the 

 most liberal cultivation : vines and tobacco do well ; without manure 

 lucerne does not thrive, nor can one be surprised at this, considering the 

 poor supply of lime in the soil. 



Three analyses were made of soil from Mr. A. Ohlsson's farm The 

 Oaks: No. 5 represents ground that had been trenched, and No. 6 was a 

 mixture of soil collected on two different parts of the farm. 



