78 



HAMILTON S. 



500 grains of this soil con- 

 tain — GR. 

 Water of absorption . 21 

 Finely divided matter 

 by filtration, princi- 

 pally alumina . . 72 

 Coarse alumina & sand 370 

 Soluble matter, mostly 



alumina .... 3 



Carbonate of lime . 2 



Oxide of iron ... 7 



Loss 25 



Total 500 



WOODMAN S FIELD. 



500 grains of this soil 

 contain — gr. 

 Water of absorption 32 

 Finely divided mat- 

 ter by filtration (alu- 

 mina) ... 16 

 Soluble matter (alu- 

 mina) . . . . \\ 

 Alumina and sand 410 

 Carbonate of lime 5 

 Oxide of iron . . 6 

 Loss ..... 29^ 



Total 500 



Although these fields joined, there is this striking 

 difference in their component parts : Hamilton's loam 

 is less retentive of water, but contains a larger amount 

 of alumina (clay) ; that of the Woodman, less soluble 

 matter by half, but of coarse clay and sand a consi- 

 derably larger quantity ; also a larger portion of lime, 

 with less amount of iron. The balance was pretty 

 equal as to their respective worth for pot use ; if any 

 difference, in favour of the Woodman, as regards lime 

 and the retention of water ; and that of Hamilton in 

 the amount of soluble matter by filtration ; but in 

 neither was there any trace of vegetable matter : 

 hence, when used simple, the cause of pine plants 

 grown in it being sickly and yellow. The soil Mr. 

 Dodemeade finds most adapted for suckers and 

 crowns consisted of equal parts of good mellow loam 



