and a Soil suitable to its Culture. 15 



any supply of fertilisers. A chief desideratum, therefore, for 

 these soils is a new plant, that will either form a network of 

 small roots itself, or, at least, not prevent other plants from com- 

 mencing their career under its shade. 



I was disposed to attribute the failure chiefly to the chalk ; it 

 appeared to me that when the tap-root struck on the chalk rock 

 the plant was poisoned. Professor Voelcker does not confirm 

 4;his view. He writes, "Allow me to suggest that the presence 

 of lime in your soil is not likely to be the cause of the failure 

 which you have experienced. I am not acquainted with a single 

 cultivated crop that is injured in any way by the presence of 

 lime in the 4 soil, and I imaging that a leguminous crop would be 

 the least likely of all to be hurt by lime." He considers that we 

 must look deeper for the cause of sterility which is connected 

 with these black soils, not only in reference to lupines but like- 

 wise to other crops, and has kindly promised that he will 

 endeavour to trace out the baneful influence. 



Cambridge. 



London: Printed by W. CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street, 

 and Charing Cross. 



