762 SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Soils and Soil-formers. 



Humus Calcareous Soil. 



J 823 was sampled on the 27th November, 1907, in three places, to a depth of 

 9 in. — in front of depot, on south side (sheltered side) of Enderby Island, on slope of 

 basaltic cliffs (see fig. 13, p. 730) ; on a sward composed of introduced grasses, clovers, 

 and Bellis perennis (daisy). Aspect easterly. The sample was collected in a canvas 

 bag ; the water-determination may therefore be low. This is a type of soil which 

 is sharply separated from all the others obtained at these islands, as it contains 

 26-4 per cent, calcic oxide, equal to 47 per cent, calcium-carbonate. It is there- 

 fore a highly calcareous soil, due to admixture of the beach-sand with humus. 

 Analysis of the beach-sand, which is given under J 826, shows it to consist of 

 91 per cent, calcium-carbonate, and to be, therefore, an almost pure calcareous sand. 

 The indigenous flora of Enderby Island in the vicinity of J 823 is for the most part 

 composed of Dracophyllum longifolium, Veronica elliptica, some Veronica huxifolia, 

 Metrosideros lucida, Suttonia divaricata, Scirpus cernuus (?). 



K 2642. — Collected on the lee side of Enderby Island, 20 yards from sandy beach, 

 on the 8th January, 1909, to a depth of 9 in. Flora : Bellis perennis, Rumex 

 neglectus, Lagenophera petiolata, Agrostis sp., Scirpus sp.. Ranunculus acaulis, Sagina 

 procumhens, Deschampsia, Cerastium glomeratum, Holcus sp. 



K 3045 was the subsoil of K 2642. 



K 2643 was taken a chain higher up the hill, supporting the same flora. 



K 3046 was the subsoil of K 2643. 



The high content of total and available phosphoric acid in these calcareous 

 sandy soils is an interesting feature. 



Campbell Island Soils. 



At my visit to Campbell Island in January, 1909, time only permitted of the 

 collection of two top soils — K 2650, a soil similar to the " lowland humus soils " of 

 Auckland Islands ; and K 2647, intermediate in composition between Auckland 

 Island " hill humus " and " rich humus " types. So few of the Campbell Island 

 soils were collected that it would be inadvisable to discuss the results at any length. 

 They have a higher lime content than the Auckland Island soils. 



This island is not so precipitous as Auckland Island. The formation of deep 

 beds of humus is therefore favoured. Sphagnum bogs also occur on the island, and 

 may have been of much greater extent in the past. The only one of any size observed 

 was 250 ft. altitude, at North-west Bay, had an area of about 50 ft. by 30 ft., and 

 contained scattered plants of Poa litorosa, Dracophyllum, Bulbinella, and Carex 

 appressa growing through it at long intervals. No Sphagnum bogs were observed 

 at Auckland Island, neither can I find any mention of such having been observed 

 by Cockayne. 



K 2650-3. — These are a series of samples taken on the 13th January, 1909, 

 from an 8 ft. face of humus and plant-remains which had been excavated to allow 

 the buildings of the homestead at Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island, to be 

 erected (fig. 1, p. 485, is taken near the locality). K 2650 is the surface 21 in. ; 

 K 2651 is 8 in. of black humus of greasy texture below K 2650 ; K 2652 is 2 ft. of 

 plant-remains below K 2651 ; K 2653 is a further 2 ft. of plant-remains below K 2652. 

 The flora was Bulbinella Rossii, Poa litorosa, Aspidium aculeatum var. vestitum, and 

 Dracophyllum scrub. 



