30 



Diseases of Truck Crops 



plete decomposition is impossible, because of the 

 absence of air and the accumulation of plant acids 

 which contain antiseptic properties. 



The chemical composition of peaty soils, as given 

 by Conner and Abbot,' may be seen in Table 5. 



Table 5 



Chemical Analyses of Different Types 0} Unproductive 

 Black Soils. 



Substance determined 



Insoluble & soluble silica, etc. 



Potash (KjO) 



Lime (CaO) 



Magnesia (MgO) 



Iron oxide (FczOj) 



Aluminum oxide (AljOj) 



Phosphoric acid (PjOs) 



Sulphur trioxide (SO3) 



Carbon dioxide (CO2) 



Volatile matter. 



Total nitrogen 



Total potash (KjO) 



Phosphoric acid soluble in 

 NysHci...; 



Total humus 



Add humus 



Acidity in pounds calcium car- 

 bonate (CaCOj) per acre foot 



Hygroscopic moisture 



From the table it is evident that the chemical 

 composition is not the same for all peaty soils. This 

 is naturally to be expected, since no two soils are 



' Conner, S. D., and Abbot, J. B., Purdue Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 

 157 : vol. 16, 1912. 



