Manures for a Four Years' Rotation. 



327 



in the last column. The good results on plot 7 show that 

 basic slag has been most lasting in its action, and that 

 this manure has given the most profitable result. The 

 smaller complete dressing on plot 8 has proved more satis- 

 factory than the large dressing- on plot 1. 



Samples of the soil were analysed by Dr. Luxmoore in 

 1898. He found that the soil is very free from stones, and, 

 though it has not much clay, it contains a considerable amount 

 of very fine sand, which gives it a good retentive power. The 

 fine earth of the surface six inches of soil dried in the air 

 contains: nitrogen = '12 per cent, of ammonia; phosphoric 

 acid = 1*39 per cent, of phosphate of lime ; and -37 per cent, 

 of potash . It also contain s ri8 per cent, of carbon ate of lime. 

 It is thus rich in phosphates and fairly rich in potash, but is 

 deficient in nitrogen. The subsoil was found to be poor in 

 nitrogen, but to have a fair amount of phosphates and potash. 

 Notwithstanding the richness in phosphates, however, it will 

 be seen that the phosphatic manures (superphosphate and 

 basic slag) have given very good results. The results on 

 plot 7 rather indicate that kainit, the potash manure, has not 

 been of great advantage. 



The geological formation on which this soil rests is the 

 Bracklesham Beds. These beds in many places give origin 

 to good useful sandy loam soils, and compare most favourably 

 with the poor sandy soils of the closely associated Bagshot 

 sands. The market garden land round Botley practically all 

 lies on this formation, and it extends from Botley east almost 

 to Wickham. Near Wickham, however, a poor gravelly soil 

 on the Plateau Gravel is to be found, and at Shidfield the 

 poorer Bagshot sands are developed. The Bracklesham Beds 

 extend also west almost to Romsey, and from there south-east 

 irregularly to Portsmouth. The results of the foregoing trials 

 should give useful indications of the effects of the different 

 manures which have been used on these extensive areas 

 where the soils are derived from this formation. 



DOUGEAS A. GlECHRIST. 



