17 



COMPO.SITIOX OF TOK LIHIITKR rORTtOX OF SAMPLE AFTElt I,EV1(;AT10.V, 



24,40 percent of the whole. 



Siliceous acid, Si 0, G5.15 % 



Sesqnioxyd of aluminium, AU 0., 19,20 



d" of Ivoii, Feo 0.J 7,76 



Lime, Ca 1,49 



Maguef<ia, Mg 0,12 



riiosplioric acid. P, 0, 0,20 



Loss on ignition 6,03 



Total ..99,95 % 



It is remarkable that 'alkalis ajipear to he wanting'— a fact whicli in itself 

 serves to refute the notion that there is a small amount of phosphoric acid in the 

 Japanese soils. The superficial diluvial layer, often overlying very loo.se sand or 

 conglomerates, and always suh)ected to a degiiulaticn hy the rain-water which is 

 mostly kept for a long while on or near its surface — the soil being hut little 

 pervious to water — , has lost its alkali-salts, and yet a tolerable amount of 

 ])hosphates is left in it. It may he adiled that not all sucli .soils are free from 

 alkalis, tlie amount of carbonate of potash being sometimes more than one half 

 percent and that of carbonate of Soila at least more than 2 per mille. Tiie sand, 

 comjirising tlie coatscr parU and (amounting to 75,52 percents of the whole, 

 coutiiiiis 



Siliceous acid. Si 0, 69.885 



Sesqnioxyd of aluminiunni AU Oj 15.285 



(V of Iron, Feo 0, 8.645 



Lime, Ca 1.875 



Magnesia, MgO tracx^s 



1)5.690 



and therefore contiiins decomposed silicates together with (piartz. tlie silicates 

 liaving chietiy furnished already clay and limonite. The ])resence of a larger 

 quantity of tiiis last-mi;iiti(ined substance is slid« n alsd by the color of the soib 

 The stiatum whicli does iKit. (/iiiti- <iiiif<n)nitljl ij overlie the lower ]iart of the 

 diluvial deposit.s shows clearly that there was a grailual and gentle passing from 

 one part of tlie formation to the other. It ni.iy b(! remarked that slight uncon- 

 formaliilitii's often occur witiiin tin- diluvial formation. Tlio)igh they are by tar 

 Ifss niuncror.s and less important here tli.m in all tliose places where we ;ne to 

 a-ssuinc a glacial iu:tion, yet they are to be oli.served, and, ;it the same time, are 

 iti perfect agreement with tlie nature of the dihuial tomi Llinn l''..i this I'onna- 

 tion i.-i one of rather quick dcstriK't ion and Inrbnliiit (le|iosilioii o| Kills in coni- 

 |»arativt;!y sliallow sei-i and near the slmres :>. tact wliicli arcoiiiils lot tin ir 

 l>eing «preid chielly aloiin tlw; present shores or nt least in wide and low plains 

 bordering the M-'H on oiie Hide. Th ■ uuconl'ormability in ipiestion. Iiowever, is 



