516 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It will be noticed that the soil was very poor in lime, but particularly 

 rich in phosphoric acid, being also well supplied with potash. 



On the other hand, there was comparatively little vegetable matter, 

 and the soil was poor in nitrogen, so that the application of farmyard 

 manure and other vegetable matter would probably be good for it. 



It having been mentioned to me that the intention was to grow 

 daffodils, I pointed out that this plant, like Ericas, Rhododendrons, &c, 

 does not do well on soils where lime is abundant, and hence, for the 

 purpose of such plants, the poverty in lime would be beneficial rather than 

 otherwise. 



For general purposes, however, the soil, being poor in lime, would 

 undoubtedly be benefited by the application of lime. 



A soil was sent to me for the purpose of ascertaining its suitability 

 for the purposes of fruit-growing. 



The following were the analytical results : — 



Soil dried at 212° F. 

 Organic matter and loss on heating . . 9*70 



Oxide of iron and alumina . . . 12*37 



Lime . . . . . . *26 



Magnesia, alkalies, &c. .... 1*80 



Insoluble silicates and sand . . . 75*87 



10000 



The soil, as indicated in measure by the foregoing analysis, was one 

 of heavy clay nature. Indeed, on examination I found it to contain 

 very little fine top-soil, but to have clay running throughout it in lumps. 

 The subsoil also was marked by streaks of yellow clay, and it was clear 

 to me that such soil wanted a good deal of cultivation, and that the 

 opening of it out was necessary before it could be considered at all a 

 suitable soil for fruit-growing. 



When one has to deal with cold clay, such as the above, the use of 

 ashes or similar material to open out the soil is frequently advisable. 



Sand. — A Fellow of the Society sent me a sample of Bude sea- 

 sand, inquiring especially whether it contained sufficient salt to render it 

 unsuitable for garden use. The analysis which I made, and which is 

 appended, shows that the quantity of salt was extremely small, and that 

 there was no occasion to apprehend any harm being done by the use of 

 the sand. 



Percentage of: — 



Water . . . . . . . 5*74 



Lime 27*10 



Equal to carbonate of lime . . . 48*40 



Silica 39*40 



Chlorine 0015 



Equal to chloride of sodium (common salt) *0025 



Miscellaneous Inquiries. — These were of varied nature and included 

 not only ordinary horticultural questions, but also such exceptional 

 subjects as the preparation of an " Essence of onion " for flavouring 

 purposes, and the preparation of a " Food for infants and invalids " from 

 the sweet potato. Though asked to advise on these, it seemed to me 

 that the subjects hardly came within my duties as consulting chemist to 

 the Royal Horticultural Society. 



