ANALYSIS OF EARTHS FROM JAPAN. 77 



tuent parts, it appeared that it should be considered as an intimate 

 mixture of silicious earth and clay, with the oxyde of iron and 

 manganese (eisenhaltiges Aluminiumsilicat). The small portion of 

 magnesia is remarkable, and even this is closely combined in the 

 soil with the silicate mentioned. 



Thus the earth appeared like atmospherically dissolved slate. 

 The phosphoric acid is well combined, and arises probably, as 

 well as the gypsum, from the manure in the soil. According to 

 Thaer's classification of soils, this earth belongs to the third 

 class, as a strong sandy clay soil. 



The analysed earth is moreover, from its deficiency in carbonic 

 acid, humus, lime, and magnesia, not to be referred to the 

 productive, and assuredly requires stronger manure, and addition 

 of alkaline matter. Its water-retaining property is consider- 

 able on account of its great portion of clay, but the soil is 

 deficient in lightness from the absence of coarse sand. 



