98 ANALYSES OF THE OAT. 



intention, in the selection of the soil, to show, first, what it was ; and (hen to show what 

 it became after the removal of the crops. Accordingly, two specimens of soil from each 

 acre were sent me for analysis : the first, to show what it was ; and the second, to show 

 what it is ; but as the selection was made as I have stated, it is evident that the analyses 

 will be less satisfactory than if they had been made in a different manner. 



The only crop which has been forwarded for analysis, is the oat crop, a specimen from 

 each of the three acres ; but the oat was incomplete, inasmuch as it was cut off about eighteen 

 inches from the ground, leaving about one half or two-thirds of the straw. It is important 

 to state these imperfections in the experiments. Besides it is stated that the acre which is 

 unmanured is naturally the richest; a fact which was suspected in the analysis of the oat. 



I will now proceed to the details of the analyses; premising, however, that, my object 

 in engaging in them was to throw more light on the composition of the soil of the Wheat 

 district. The soil, as decribed by Mr. Osborn, is a gravelly loam, with a clay subsoil from 

 eight to sixteen inches deep. For further details of the experiments, the reader is referred 

 to the State Agricultural Society's Transactions for 1847. 



ANALYSIS OF THE SOILS REFERRED TO IN THE PRECEDING REMARKS. 



I. The cast acre was manured witli ten cords of barnyard manure, which was hauled 

 on while wet, and spread as fast as it could be ploughed in. One hundred grains of the 

 soil were saturated with moisture; 26 - 886 grs. of water were absorbed, leaving 73' 114 of 

 dry soil. 



Another 100 grs. gave 



Soil as it was. 



Organic matter 5-390 



Water 1-905 



Silica 84-375 



Alumina, peroxide of iron and phosphates - 5-870 



Soluble silica - - - - - 0-145 



Carbonate of lime 0'243 



Magnesia 0-025 



Potash 0-164 



Soda 0-485 



Chloride of sodium ..... 0-012 



Sulphuric acid 0-004 



Carbonic acid not appreciable. 



9S-618 S. 



