ANNUAL EErOET OF CONSULTING CHEMIST. 



241 



This was an excessively poor material, practically devoid of nitrogen, 

 and containing only a little over 2 per cent, of phosphates. It was stated 

 to be " very good for root crops and other crops deficient in phosphates, 

 and also as a preventive against insects." 



A few shillings per ton would have been its full value, and it certainly 

 was not worth paying any carriage on. 



Several interesting points were brought out in connection with the 

 samples of soil which were forwarded for analysis. In one case a great 

 deficiency in lime was shown, the soil containing, in the air-dried state, 

 only 0'13 per cent, of lime. 



A second sample, a red sandy loam, was found to be deficient in 

 vegetable matter ; while, in the case of a third sample, examination of it 

 proved it to be strongly alkaline in character. Regarding this soil a 

 complaint had been made that trees in- a peach border^ "suddenly 

 collapsed," and on this account the soil was sent for analysis. On 

 washing out the soil with water I found it to yield an alkaline liquid, 

 and this contained relatively large amounts of nitrates and sulphate of 

 lime. Also, the rootlets scattered through the soil were found to be 

 covered with a crystalline mass, which proved to be sulphate of lime. The 

 quantities of salts far exceeded anything that w^ould be naturally found 

 in a soil, and it was clear that some excessive treatment with materials of 

 alkaline nature had been adopted, and so injured the trees. 



It may be of interest to give the following analysis of a sample of soil 

 obtained from near Gibraltar, the soil being one in which Narcissus 

 viridifiorus especially flourishes : — 



Organic matter and loss on heating . 



. 2-69 



Oxide of iron and alumina 



. 3-95 



Lime ....... 



•17 



Phosphoric acid 



•04 



Alkalies &c. ..... 



•66 



Insoluble siliceous matter . 



. 92-49 





10000 





•099 



It is not clear to me that there is any definite connection between any 

 constituent of the soil (which, indeed, is one of distinctly poor character) 

 and the luxuriance of the Narcissus viridiflonis, and I should consider 

 that the cause must be sought in other directions, such as climate, 

 situation, &c. 



Eleven samples of w^ater were sent to me for examination. Of these 

 only three were entirely satisfactory. One was much polluted with 

 drainage matter, and four others were of doubtful quality. 



In three cases injury caused to plants was believed to be due to the 

 water, and the samples of w^ater were duly examined with a view of 

 ascertaining whether this was the case. In one instance the water was 

 found to be foul-smelling and highly charged with sulphuretted hydrogen 

 gas. This, of course, is very prejudicial to plant life. 



In a second instance it was stated that " of late everything grown in 

 the house has gone wrong!" The water was found to be exceedingly 

 saline in nature. It gave total solids amounting to 119 grains per 



K 



