162 



The ultimate composition of the pure tannin will be seen by the 

 i ollowing average of three analyses : — 



Carbon ... 58.92 per cent. 



Hydrogen ... 4.80 " 



Oxygen ... 36.29 " 



100.00 " 



An aqueous solution of the tannin gave the following reactions : — 



Lime Water . . . Purplish-pink color, becoming a brownish ppt* 



Bromine Water Yellow ppt. 



Ferric chloride... Green ppt. and color. 



The composition, as well as the reactions indicate it to be very 

 closely related to oak bark tannin, if not identical with it. The sample 

 does not agree in composition or properties with the dragon's blood 

 from the East Indies ; it does, however, closely resemble the kinos, and 

 should more properly be classed with them. 



It will no doubt, if found in sufficient quantity, have some use in 

 medicine as a kino, and it might be used, in case its price should 

 warrant it, in the manufacture of leather, although such substances con- 

 taining gum usually make a soft leather. 



TILLAGE OF THE SOIL: ITS PARAMOUNT IM- 

 PORTANCE. 



Questions are often asked about the application of manures to soil, 

 especially of artificial manures. The answer to such questions from 

 small settlers generally should be, — have nothing to do with chemical 

 manures, use the natural manures especially on the higher parts of your 

 land, but till your land over and over again, before you plant, and while 

 growth is going on. Let tillage be your watchword. 



Lazy people may say that there is no use in tilling, for heavy rain 

 washes away the soil. But rain will not wash away as much as if you do 

 not till. Tillage loosens the soil to some depth, the rain sinks in and 

 does not carry away so much as when the ground is quite hard below. 

 Besides tillage is always making new soil, and there is no deterioration. 



In the article on "Mtrogen" in this Bulletin, it is pointed out 

 what a vast amount of work is done by microbes in making bad soil 

 into good, fit for plant food, but these microbes must be assisted by the 

 planters to do their work. 



Experiments have been carried on with various soils in different parts 

 of France by Mr. P. P. Deherain, and his results, published in several 

 numbers of the Experimental Station Record of the IT. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, show clearly the paramount importance of constant till- 

 age. He sums up all his work in the following paragraphs : — 



