206 Dr. Voelckers Notes. 



From these results it appears that though the old Cheviot turf 

 has been down so long, and has had such a time for the storing up 

 of vegetable matter, yet, on taking the soil to the depth of nine 

 inches, there is not half a per cent, less vegetable matter in the 

 ploughed-up and cultivated land than in the old turf. This, and 

 the very different appearances presented by the soils, led me to 

 examine further, and see in which part, or layer, of the 

 son the excess vegetable matter was. The figures show that this 

 was by far the most prominent in the first inch — i.e., where the 

 matted roots were, and with consequent absence of real soil 

 formation. 



Still more pertinent is the difference shown by the two samples 

 in respect of the moisture they held, the Cheviot turf being spongy 

 and moist throughout the whole topsoil, while the five-year-old 

 pasture was uniform soil throughout, and seemed well drained, 

 and not in stagnant condition like the other. This, of course, 

 carries with it most important consequences as regards the health 

 of stock grazed upon the respective pastures. Though the figures 

 do not show that there is actually more, or even as much, vege- 

 table matter in the ftve-year-old pasture as in the old Cheviot 

 turf, the form in which it exists, and the general condition of the 

 soil induced by its presence, are vastly superior in the case of the 

 newer pasture. I should describe the old Cheviot soil as one 

 which was sour through accumulation of vegetable matter and 

 retention of moisture, producing an acid and unhealthy condition 

 of the soil, preventing its proper aeration and drainage, or the 

 healthy penetration of the roots into the subsoil. On such accu- 



