210 Dr. Voeleker's Notes. 



enough to indicate whether this be beneficial or not, for, as 

 pointed out in the case of the old Cheviot turf, these constituents 

 may be present in the form of a spongy iafertUe mass of roots 

 accumulated at the surface. The real test is whether the total 

 amoimt of organic matter and nitrogen in the whole mass of soil 

 constituting the growing area is increased, and whether this is of 

 such nature as to be available for use by growing plants. Hence, 

 while the analyses as given above show that the soil, as a whole, 

 is by no means deteriorating, but rather the reverse, even more 

 abundant testimony is borne to this fact by the observations 

 which I have made from , year to year of the samples of soil 

 submitted to me. This comparison has been a most instructive 

 one, and, going as I have done through the whole series from 

 1902 to 1907, 1 cannot fail to be greatly struck with the marked 

 improvement which has gone on from year to year in the 

 character of the soil. The gradual penetration of the humus to 

 the lower layers has been very apparent, and with this has come 

 about the deeper penetration and more free growth of the rootlets 

 of the plants. When I see what the soil originally was and 

 what it is now, I can only describe the change by saying that 

 " soil has been formed." I cannot say, of course, that the stones 

 have disappeared ! But they have at least become less obtrusive, 

 and more surrounded with good soil, and the whole has a more 

 healthy appearance and is more what soil should be. This 

 change I cannot but attribute in chief measure to the system 

 which has been pursued by Mr. Elliot. 



J. A. VOELCKEE. 

 January, 1908. 



