10 



On the Chemical Properties of Soils. 



contained in it determined in precisely the same manner as in 

 the preceding experiment. 



Before contact with soil the solution contained in 



1000 grains 



After contact 



Difference 



Ammonia. 

 Grains. 



332 

 115 



217 



Thus we see that 217 grains were removed from each 1000 

 grains of liquid, or 3'038 grains from the whole liquid, and re- 

 tained by 3500 grains of soil. 1000 grains of soil therefore 

 absorbed *868 of ammonia. By distillation the amount of am- 

 monia in the liquid after contact with soil was found to be "131 

 grains, in 1000 grains of liquid, or 2*814 grains from the whole 

 liquid. Accordingly 1000 grains of soil absorbed *804 grains 

 of ammonia. 



Third Experiment, on Stiff Clay Land. 



The mechanical and chemical analysis of the soil and its subsoil 

 furnished the following results : 



Mechanical Analysis. 



Moisture 



Organic matter and water of combination . . 



Sand 



Lime 



Clay 



Chemical Analysis. 



Moisture , 



Organic matter and water of combination . . 



Oxides of iron and alumina 



Phosphoric acid 



Carbonate of lime 



Sulphate of lime .. , 



Subsoil. 



9-46 

 4-87 

 9-26 

 1-12 

 75-29 



100-00 



Surface soil. 



3-91 



4-80 



10-97 



2-19 



78-13 



100-00 



Alkalies and loss 



Insoluble siliceous matter (chiefly clay) .. 65'71 80-85 



100-00 100-00 



Equal parts of soil and subsoil were mixed together, and 3500 

 grains of the mixture shaken up with 14,000 grains of ammonia 

 solution, and treated as before mentioned : 



Ammonia. 

 Grains. 



Before centact with soil the solution contained in 



1000 grains .. '332 



After contact *143 



189 



