42 



BITTER PIT INVESTIGATION. 



In the "Gracefield" orchard there was a depth of eleven and a half inches of light loam not so 

 dark in colour as the other, then about six and a half inches whiter hi colour, and at bottom five and a 

 half inches of a stiff, yellowish-brown clay. At a depth of two feet the clay commenced to get marly. 

 The following report on the samples of soil was received from Mr. P. R. Scott, Chemist for 

 Agriculture : 



REPORT ON SAMPLES OF SOIL FROM DROMANA. 



GRACEFIELD ORCHARD. 



GLENONE ORCHARD. 



Nitrogen parts per 100 000 



Phosphoric acid 



Potash 



Lame 



Magnesia 



Chlorine 



Pine gravel 

 Coarse sand 

 Medium sand 

 Fine sand 

 Very fine sand 

 Coarse silt 

 Fine silt 



Clay 



Moisture 



Loss on ignition 



GRACEFIELD. This soil, when compared with what a good soil may be expected to contain, 

 is found to have a fairly high percentage of nitrogen, with a poor content of phosphoric acid, potash, 

 and lime. A typical good fruit soil, however, is generally found to be one that is considerably below 

 the nominal quality of a first-class agricultural soil. A rich soil would be conducive to strong growth. 

 A light soil having less abundance of plant food constituents is therefore more adaptable to the success- 

 ful growth of the plant. Typical soil well adapted to fruit growing should contain the greater bulk 

 of the earthy material as sand and silt about 60 per cent, and about 10 per cent, of clay. This 

 soil then contains more clay than would be considered as essential for a good orchard soil, and may be 

 classed from its physical condition as of indifferent quality for fruit growing. 



GLENONE. This soil, when compared with what a good soil may be expected to contain, is 

 well supplied with nitrogen, but its content of phosphoric acid and potash is poor. A soil suitable 

 for fruit is generally low in plant food constituents, as more seems to depend on success to the 

 mechanical composition of the soil. Better results are to be anticipated from a soil which contains 

 about 60 per cent, of silt and fine sand, with about 10 per cent, of clay, and the balance as fine 

 gravel and coarse sand. Soils of this description are generally poor in plant foods. The above soil 

 will, therefore, be considered as one possessing good physical conditions for the cultivation of fruit. 



The physical condition of the soil plays a very important part in the production of fruit, for 

 it is well known that poor lands quite unsuitable for agricultural purposes are best adapted for the 

 growth of fruit trees and the bearing of good crops of fruit. 



The most important difference between the two soils lies in their physical condition. The 

 soil from the "Gracefield" orchard, which is the worst for Pit, possesses only a poor physical condition, 

 as the clay is in too large a proportion when compared with the other ingredients ; while the "Glenone" 

 soil is in good physical condition, the clay being in that proportion essential .to good fruit growing. 



