52 NATURE OF THE SOIL. 



Dr. Yon Siebold. These scientific men describe the 

 soil as a " strong ferruginous clay in which no mix- 

 ture of sand was perceptible to the naked eye." After 

 analysis they classed it as " an intimate mixture of 

 siliceous earth and clay, with oxyde of iron and 

 manganese." The earth appeared like " atmo- 

 spherically dissolved slate," and " from its deficiency 

 of carbonic acid, humus, lime, and magnesia, could 

 not be classed as productive ;" and it was their 

 opinion " that it required stronger manure and an 

 addition of alkaline matter. Its water-retaining 

 property was considerable, on account of its great 

 portion of clay, but the soil was deficient in light- 

 ness from the absence of coarse sand."* 



Several specimens of soil were obtained by me 

 through different channels from the province of 

 Fokien, some from the Bohea district. They were 

 procured by respectable parties ; but what depen- 

 dence can be placed upon them as being true or 

 good specimens I cannot determine. An analysis 

 of these soils, sufficient for agricultural purposes, 

 was obligingly made expressly for me by Mr. 

 Faraday, the result of which is appended to this 

 chapter. It is there stated by that profound chemist 

 that " the general character of these soils seems 

 to be that of a ferruginous clay, but easily crum- 

 bling, and falling down in water. None of them 

 contained worn pebbles or worn sand, though some 



* See note appended to this chapter. 



