Ninth Annual Report, etc. 6i 



nd suggesting lines of treatment for the soils under considera- 

 tion gives a general account of the factors, chemical and 

 physical, that conduce to a soil's fertility. 



Under the caption " Naturally-occurring Fertilizers," the 

 composition of a large number of swamp mucks, marsh, river 

 and mussel muds is given. The samples are from very widely 

 distant points in Canada, and the results show that farmers may 

 easily and cheaply in many parts of the Dominion supplement 

 their supply of home-produced barnyard manure, enhancing the 

 fertility of their fields. The composition of the Bracken Fern 

 (Pteris aquilina) has also been ascertained. It appears to pos- 

 sess in a marked degree the ability to exhaust the soil of certain 

 mineral ingredients, and hence should not be allowed to spread 

 through pastures, as often noticed. 



An interesting chapter appears on the " Nitrogen in the 

 clover crop." The analytical figures show that in the experiment 

 recorded there were 172.3 lbs. of nitrogen stored in the leaves, 

 stems and roots of this plant, per acre. In this way the value of 

 clover as a green manure is brought before our agriculturists. 

 The data of this investigation are particularly interesting. 



A short report on moss litter from New Brunswick follows, 

 giving the amounts of fertilizing constituents it contains and its 

 absorptive capacity. Evidently in this dried sphagnum, Canada 

 possesses a most valuable bedding material and one which must 

 come more and more into use in cities, replacing the more 

 bulky straw now employed. 



Industrial Fertilizers : These include " Waste from a 

 Shoddy Factory," " Bone and Meat Meal Tankage," "Slaughter- 

 house Offal, etc., etc., the analytical data being accompanied by 

 directions for their use. 



The investigation commenced some years ago into the 

 value of finely ground mineral phosphate has been continued, 

 and some interesting results are here brought forward on this 

 important question. 



The chemistry of Arsenate of Lead, a new insecticide 



