ANALYSIS OF EARTHS FROM CHINA. 



75 



tained also a few loose fibres. It contained also a trace of 

 sulphate of lime.* 



No. 2. contained fragments of apparently a decomposing 

 porphyritic rock ; it was in this that the fragment of carbonate 

 of lime occurred. It included also several pieces of charcoal, 

 and a few portions of old decayed vegetable fibres. 



No. 3. Included some long woody fibres, and a few irregular 

 fragments like those of No. 2. 



No. 4. contained very few vegetable fibres, some angular 

 fragments of decomposing granite and felspar, and particles of 

 mica diffused through the soil. 



No. 5. contained very few fibres ; no appearance of pebbles 

 or of mica ; but, by washing, a few heavy, greenish black mineral 

 particles were found, which had not before occurred. 



No. 6. A few fibres ; no stones ; much mica in a finely 

 divided state, but no green particles. 



No. 7. A few long, loose, woody fibres ; a few small silicious 

 stones ; particles of mica, and a recurrence of the same green 

 particles as in No. 5. 



The proportions of sand in these soils varied very much, as 

 may be observed in the following table. The clay, &c. includes 

 not only the argillaceous particles, but destructible matter and 

 water. 



* This soil had been manured with goats' dung, and was taken 

 from the small plantation at the Lapa, described by Dr. Abel. 



