140 HOW TO GROW GOOD CLOVER. 



soil, though it would favour the growth of some 

 species of peat-loving plants, as Ling, Heath, &c, is 

 not suitable for clover, as the wild plant is curiously- 

 absent from peaty positions. 



Professor Voelcker remarks that " the excess of 

 undecomposed organic matters in soils is decidedly 

 injurious to vegetation. Roots, stems, and other 

 vegetable matters remain buried in the ground for 

 years without undergoing decomposition, and if we 

 attentively study the subjoined analysis of soil in 

 the neighbourhood of Cirencester, well adapted for 

 burning, we shall see how the lime, alumina, and 

 organic matter might be beneficially affected by the 

 process : — 



ANALYSIS OF SOIL ADAPTED FOR BURNING, BY PROFESSOR VOELCKER. 



Moisture -93 



Organic matter 10*67 



Oxides of iron and alumina 13'40 



Carbonate of lime with a little sulphate of lime ... 23*90 * 



Carbonate of magnesia.. 1*10 



Phosphoric acid trace 



Potash -38 



Soda -13 



Insoluble silicious matter 49 "66 



100-17" 



The ashes, however, are obtained by burning a thin 

 slice pared from the surface of the land, so that they 

 are derived from surface-soil and vegetable matter, 

 the latter often yielding a sufficient amount of 

 phosphoric acid with which to procure a crop, and, 

 what is all important for us to consider is, that this 

 phosphorus, the alkalies, and lime, are rendered by 

 the burning in a state just fitted for the growth of 

 the plants that are to be grown upon them ; whereas, 



