150 TALKS ON MANURES. 



depth of 12 inches from the surface, no distinct fibres could be 

 found. The soil was almost completely saturated with rain when 

 it was dug up on the 13th of September, 1866 : 



Lbs. 



The upper six inches of soil, one foot square^weighed 60 



The second 



The third " ^ 



" These three portions of one foot of soil, 18 inches deep, were 

 dried nearly completely, and weighed again ; when the first six 

 inches weighed 51 Ibs. ; the second six inches, 51 Ibs. 5 oz. ; and 

 the third section, 54 Ibs. 2 oz. 



" The first six inches contained 3 Ibs. of silicious stones, (flints), 

 which were rejected in preparing a sample for analysis; in the 

 two remaining sections there were no large sized stones. The soils 

 were pounded down, and passed through a wire sieve. 



" The three layers of soil, dried and reduced to powder, were 

 mixed together, and a prepared average sample, when submitted 

 to analysis, yielded the following results: 



COMPOSITION OF CLOVER-SOIL, 18 INCHES DEEP, FROM 

 PART OF 11-ACRE FIELD, TWICE MOWN FOR HAY. 



( Organic matter 5. % 



Oxides of iron 6.83 



Alumina 7.12 



Carbonate of lime 2.13 



Soluble in hy- Magnesia 2.01 



drochloric acid. Potash 67 



Soda 08 



Chloride of sodium 02 



Phosphoric acid 18 



Sulphuric acid 17 



Insoluble silicious matter, 74.G1. Consisting of : 



Alumina 4.37 



Lime, (in a state of silicate) 4.07 



Insoluble in acid Magnesia 46 



Potash 19 



Soda .23 



Silica .. 65.29 



" This soil, it will be seen, contained, in appreciable quantities, 

 not only potash and phosphoric acid, buit all the element} of fertil- 

 ity which enter into the composition of good arable land. It may 

 be briefly described as a stiff clay soil, containing a sufficiency of 

 lime, potash, and phosphoric acid, to meet all the requirements of 

 the clover-crop. Originally, rather unproductive, it has been much 

 improved by deep culture ; by being smashed up into rouirh clods, 

 early in autumn, and by being exposed in this state to the crum- 

 bling effects of the air, it now yields good corn and forage crops. 



