REPORT OF THE SOCIETY'S CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1910. 60? 



The remaining sample of water was one sent to me from Cornwall, 

 and which was suspected of being saline in character. It was desired 

 to know whether it would be sufficiently " salty " to be unfitted for 

 horticultural purposes. 



The water gave, on evaporation to dryness, a total solid residue 

 amounting to 13 grains per gallon. Of this, no less than 9*52 grains 

 per gallon consisted of common salt. While the proportion of salt to 

 total solids is relatively very high, it could hardly be said that the 

 water was sufficiently saline to make it unsuitable for employment for 

 garden purposes. 



Soils. 



(a) Soil for growing Apples. — The sample sent me came from New 

 Barnet, and it was desired to know whether it was suitable for the 

 growing of apples. The analysis was as follows: — 



Soil dried at 212° F, 



Organic matter and loss on heating . . 17*12 



Oxide of iron 4-29 



Alumina 10-79 



Lime 1-83 



Magnesia 1-73 



Potash . . . . . . . -77 



Soda . . . . , . . . -47 



Phosphoric acid . . . . . . -26 



Sulphuric acid ...... -22 



Insoluble silicates and sand . . . 62-52 



100-00 



Nitrogen 



•671 



The above figures show that the soil was an extremely rich one, 

 containing an abundance of vegetable matter, and being more than 

 ordinarily well supplied in nitrogen. There was also an abundance of 

 lime, and in both phosphoric acid and potash— these being essential 

 points in fruit-growing — the soil was distinctly rich. The analysis 

 accordingly showed no deficiency of desirable constituents, and being, 

 as was the case, one of deep nature, it should answer the purposes 

 very well. 



(b) Soil for Fruit Trees.-— This sample was sent me from Guildford. 

 Surrey, and the analysis was as follows: — 



Organic matter and loss on heating 

 Oxide of iron and alumina 

 Lime .... 

 Magnesia, alkalies, &c. 

 Phosphoric acid 

 Insoluble siliceous matter 



Soil dried at 212° 



4-02 

 7-62 

 •56 

 •28 

 •35 

 87^17 



100-00 



The soil was of somewhat too light and gritty a character to do 

 really well for fruit trees. The analysis shows it to contain compara- 

 tively little vegetable matter, and the amount of lime was also decidedly 



