REPORT OF THE SOCIETY'S CONSULTING CHEMIST. 



515 



The sample referred to above as being impure gave the following 

 results : — 



Grains per gallon. 



Total solid residue .... 



. 20-44 



Oxygen absorbed .... 



•225 



Equal to oxidisable organic matter . 



. 1-80 



Nitric acid as nitrates 



. 2-97 



Chlorine ...... 



1-52 



Equal to chloride of sodium 



. 2-50 







Albuminoid ammonia 



•018 



The water was of a yellowish colour and contained somewhat much 

 deposit. There was a considerable amount of dissolved organic matter 

 and ammonia, besides which the water contained nitrates to some marked 

 extent. It would seem to me likely that this was a supply that was 

 affected by land-drainage water such as might proceed from garden or 

 similarly manured land. 



Soils. — A sample of soil was sent me in respect of which a complaint 

 was made by the gardener that it was in a bad state, and that he could 

 not get Celery or Brassicas to grow satisfactorily in it. 



A partial analysis gave the following results : — 



Soil dried at 212° F. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . . 16*96 



Oxide of iron and alumina . . . 8-91 



Lime 5*27 



Alkalies, magnesia, carbonic acid, &c. . 3*45 



Thosphoric acid ..... '87 



Insoluble siliceous matter . . . 64-54 



10000 



It will be seen that the soil contained a large amount of vegetable 

 matter. Indeed, I consider that it was overcharged with manure, in 

 consequence of which a bad physical state of the soil had been produced, 

 and moisture was too readily retained by it. It was to this cause, rather 

 than to any lack of the necessary elements of fertility, that I consider 

 failure was due. 



I have not unfrequently met with cases where soils have been spoiled 

 in this way through being "over-dosed" with stable-manure and the 

 like, and in such cases the best remedy is to be found in bringing about 

 an alteration of the physical condition of the soil by mixing it with soil 

 of different texture. 



A soil was sent to me with a request that, among other points, I would 

 indicate whether it was in need of liming. The analysis was as follows : — 



Soil dried at 212° F. 



* Organic matter and loss on heating . 5-43 



Oxide of iron 601 



Alumina . . ■ 3-81 



Lime ; -17 



Magnesia *33 



Potash -53 



Soda "46 



Phosphpric acid '45 



Sulphuric acid ...... *18 



Insoluble siliceous matter . . . 82-63 



10000 



* Containing nitrogen ..... '168 



