18 RELATION OF LIME AND MAGNESIA TO PLANT GROWTH. 
THE RATIO BETWEEN LIME AND MAGNESIA IN SOILS OF 
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. 
Although soil analyses made in the old way do not permit of distin- 
guishing between those compounds in the soils that are present in a 
very easily assimilable condition and those that are not so easily avail- 
able, nevertheless a short review of the composition of soils of various 
countries might be made, since it will show at least what extremes of 
the lime and magnesia content might eventually, in case of fine distri- 
bution, be encountered by the roots. May it be distinctly understood, 
however, that it is beyond the scope of this bulletin to consider all the 
literature on soil analyses. This would have an essential value only if 
all the analyses were made in the manner indicated below. 
SOILS OF AMERICA. 
Soils of Alabama.—Bulletin No. 5, of the Agricultural Experiment 
Station at Auburn, Ala., gives analyses of soils and subsoils of eight 
different counties of that State. In three of these soils and four of the 
subsoils the content of magnesia exceeds that of lime: 
Per cent. 
Ma xamotinat ot times. eae aes oe 2 eek een ree SC eh ee AR A OSES Oe 
Maximutnn Of magnesia esis eon RG ce ey eee ae neers . 671 
Mama tian tama Sofi mae) a). SL Seal ee eee eh a Me em rae ~ Veil 
Minimum ;oimagnesian.. Zio 22 eee ees anes ee aoe eee . 005 
Soils of Lowisiana.—A report published by the Louisiana State 
University on geology and agriculture, Baton Rouge, La., 1893, con- 
tains in the first part ten analyses of soils of northern Louisiana, from 
five different districts. These soils are poor, but yield fair returns 
when judiciously manured. From these analyses, it is seen that the 
soils are mostly poor in lime and magnesia. In five cases the content 
of magnesia exceeds that of lime: 
Per cent. 
Maximum: obdime: 22 2. Sa ds 0 eo ete ee eae eee pa 0. 145 
Maximiunal Of maemesiau ees oo eer ae eee Ros ae Steinem te . 180 
Minima ot dimes 2a ta 2 Ses on eae ee a eee See seen . 009 
Minimum ‘of macnesia et 28 eae tee ee eee eee Osta 
In Part Il of that report forty-five analyses of soils and subsoils 
from different formations and districts are communicated. In sixteen 
cases magnesia predominates over lime, but this excess is small in 
eleven of them. Omitting the rich calcareous soils, Nos. 22 and 23, 
there is found: 
Pewcentts 
Maximum, of Ninme 225. i ek ae ea eee 2. 580 
Maximum, of magnesia. 2/5) 102 os enter ce eee eee ee aL EE() 
i Ghobbookbhanwee) en bhottmeMtenia ty Muar rime cre Se eur a es a ky dell Med - 033 
