68 EXPERBIEXT STATION. [Jan. 



The average percentage of coarse particles is 19.98 in our 

 experiment soils, and 9.08 in typical rose soils, while the 

 average for the finer particles is 66.49 in onr soils and 79.36 

 for the typical rose soils; in other words, the percentage of 

 coarse material averages highest in the soils with which we 

 experimented, and the percentage of finer particles averaged 

 less than in the typical rose soils. The average percentage 

 for silt is 14,88, and for fine silt 5.66 in onr experiment soils, 

 while the typical rose soils give 22.36 for the silt and 16.21 

 for the fine silt, the typical rose soils shov/ing a larger percent- 

 age of silts than onr experiment soils. This also holds true 

 for the clays. We are of the opinion that the larger percent- 

 age of silt and very fine sand makes a compact soil of good 

 water-retaining capacity. Onr experiments were not carried 

 on extensively enough to determine, except in a general way, 

 the textnral effect on roses, and it would require considerable 

 experimenting to determine the specific eftects of each group 

 of soil particles on the development of this plant. Xumerous 

 mechanical analyses of a large numbei: of onr best rose soils 

 which have been made for many years throw some light on the 

 problem of soil texture, but the problem, like many others, is 

 complicated by the undoubted presence of other factors which 

 may play a part here in the development of a crop. 



The best rose soils appear to be those which possess from 

 8 to 12 per cent, or more of clay, and which are v\'ell supplied 

 with other grades of the finer particles. The percentage of 

 A'cry fine sand, silt and clay should exceed 75 per cent. 



Onr experiments with roses were not continued as long as 

 we should have liked, and the results have a limited value. 

 Neither were our soils treated with fresh pulverized sod, as is 

 customary, except in one case, where the addition of sod proved 

 a great l)enefit. The presence of organic matter is important, 

 and our best soil was the one in which the organic matter was 

 well incorporated and decomposed. The soils which produced 

 the most normal growth were those of a compact nature, and 

 the freshly prepared soils gave better results than the old ones 

 which had been used for growing various crops. 



