J. W. BOULTBEE. CLXI1X. 
the whole paper, it is not very long, so that its inclusion 
seems justified. Examinations have been made regarding 
the nature, value, and utilisation of alkali lands, and upon 
the tolerance of alkali by various cultures, to which I shall 
refer. The investigations made by the chemists determine 
first the quantity of alkali in the soil. They are not con- 
tent in taking the surface soil only, as we have done in cases 
where analysis of the soil has been made, but they average 
samples of the soil to a depth of four feet; the soil is 
further tested to ascertain the natural moisture, or, as it 
is called, the hygroscopic moisture. This moisture is found 
in all soils, in accordance with its nature and density. This 
is taken into consideration with the natural rainfall, and 
calculation is made as to what amount of water is required 
respectively by each class of culture proposed. This is of 
value in obviating waste, and in estimating the quantity 
of water required to be provided for any proposal. The 
water is also analysed, and the comparison of the results 
with that obtained from the soil analyses enables the 
chemist to advise with no degree of uncertainty. Much 
could be done here, and no doubt many misapplied efforts 
and futile expense could have been avoided had such system 
been generally in vogue. 
It should, I think, be laid down as an axiom, that before 
any irrigation is commenced, an exhaustive chemical exam- 
ination should be first made of the soil and water. Nearly 
the whole of our artesian waters have been analysed, and 
in some instances soils from the surface of the land pro- 
posed to be irrigated, the analyses of which have shown 
that little or no alkali exists in them, while on the other 
hand, an apparently larger proportion of alkaline carbonates 
is present in the water than is observed in America. It 
must, however, be remembered that the basis on which 
the analyses are made are not the same. The United 
