88 



3rd. If the land is arable, it should be stated 



how long it has been in cultivation, &c. 



4$. Peculiarities of climate should in all cases 



be given. 



5 th. If any peculiarities are observed in the 

 soil, the particular features it is expected 

 that analysis will aid in elucidating 

 should be stated." 



In order to ascertain the relation between soils 

 and subsoils in India, I have analyzed a number of 

 rice-bearing soils in the vicinity of Bombay and in 

 the Concan, and found that the subsoils contain, on 

 an average, 30 per cent, more of the elements of 

 inorganic plant-food than the surface-soils. I 

 demonstrated their relative bearing powers by 

 growing, during the rainy season of 1872, a number 

 of rice-plants in surface-soils and an equal number 

 in subsoils. None of the soils was prepared in any 

 way, and no manure was used. The rice growing 

 in the surface -soils yielded 16 fold, in the subsoils 

 only 5 fold. In February 1873 both kinds of 

 soils were thoroughly tilled with a small spade, and 

 this was repeated after the first shower of rain in 

 June, after which some rice was sown again. 

 The yield was now from the surface-soils 17 fold, 

 from the subsoils 40 fold. The experiment was, 

 for want of time, not continued ; but I have no 

 doubt that the yield of the subsoils would have 

 been even larger in the following year. 



