TACONIC DISTRICT. 249 



We give here the results of an investigation of the amount of soluble matter contained 

 in several specimens of the soils of the Taconic district, as determined by exposing two 

 hundred grains to the action of eight ounces of rain water for several days, during which 

 time the solution was frequently agitated. 



Yellowish loam from Sckodack. 



Matter dissolved 2-00 



Saline matter 1*44 



Organic acids 0*50 



The saline matter consisted of the chlorides of lime and magnesia, and the crenate of lime. 



Another specimen from the same neighborhood. 



Soluble matter 1-97 



Saline matter 0-50 



Vegetable or organic matter 1 '47 



Contains chloride and sulphate of lime, crenate of lime, and magnesia and ammonia. 

 When these vegetable salts are tested with chloride of platinum, a light yellowish preci- 

 pitate is obtained, which was first supposed to be chloride of potassium, but I now believe 

 it is an ammoniacal salt, or a mixture of the two. This result is almost as constant as 

 those for lime and chlorine. 



Specimen from a grass land in Chatham. 



Whole soluble matter 1-03 



Saline matter 0*62 



Vegetable matter 0-41 



Another specimen. 



Soluble matter 0*75 



Saline matter 0*43 



Vegetable or organic matter ... . 0-26 



A reddish soil, of local formation and quite recent. 



Many additional trials were made for obtaining the soluble matter. It is evident that 

 by this method we obtained what is available to plants at the present time. The solutions, 

 after standing a proper time, are filtered until perfectly transparent. It is necessary, in 

 some cases, to filter three or four times, before the solution can be rendered sufficiently 

 pure for determination. It is first evaporated in a porcelain dish to about half an ounce : 

 it is then transferred to a balanced platina crucible, in which it is completed, and then 

 weighed. It is afterwards exposed to a red heat, when it loses its organic matter, and is 

 then weighed again while hot : the loss indicates the vegetable matter consumed. Before 

 the last operation, the behavior of the saline mass shows the presence of the crenates by the 

 effect of acetate of copper. The presence of the organic salts is interesting and important. 

 [Agricultural Report.] 32 



