ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1912. 547 



Soils. 



(a) Soil for Apples. — The following are the analyses of the top-soil 

 and sub-soil of land coming from the Upper Triassic formation in 

 Somersetshire. It was intended to grow apples on this soil: — 





Top-soil. 



Sub-soil. 



Soils dried at 212° P. 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . 



. 5-23 



2-73 



Oxide of iron . . . . 



. 3-90 



5-15 



Alumina 



. 4-43 



4-70 



Lime 



. 2-16 



•66 



Magnesia 



. 1-03 



1-46 



Potash 



•71 



•93 



Soda 



•31 



•20 



Phosphoric acid ..... 



•10 



•09 



Sulphuric acid ..... 



•25 



•29 



Insoluble silicates and sand . 



. 81^88 



83-79 





100^00 



100-00 



Nitrogen ..... 



. ^198 



•114 



Speaking generally, the soil was one suitable for apple-growing, except 

 as regards the amount of phosphoric acid, which is distinctly low. It 

 was of good depth and very even throughout, this being also an 

 important consideration in such a case. 



(b) Soil for Vine Border. — Two samples of soil intended for use as 

 a vine border were sent to me for partial analysis. The results were 



as follows : — 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Soils dried at 212° F. Per cent. Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . . 9-73 5^01 



Lime ^33 '49 



Phosphoric acid ...... '16 -13 



Alkalis, &c 1-26 '61 



Insoluble siliceous matter .... 81 •SG 89^38 



Oxide of iron and alumina . . . . 6-96 4^38 



^ 100-00 100-00 



Neither of these soils could be called good, both being distinctly poor 

 in lime, a necessary constituent for vine-growing. They were also only 

 moderately supplied with phosphoric acid. 



(c) Soil for Flowuring Shrubs, Herbaceous Plants, &c. — A sample 

 of soil from the neighbourhood of Woking was sent me in order to 

 ascertain in what respects it might be deficient, the intention being to 

 use it for growing flowering shrubs, herbaceous plants, &c. The 

 analysis was as follows : — 



Soil dried at 212= F. 



Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating 



. 6-46 



Oxide of iron 



-24 



Alumina ...... 



•32 



Lime 



•10 



Magnesia . . ... 



•33 



Potash . . . . . 



•08 



Soda . . . . 



•08 



Phosphoric acid .... 



•04 



Sulphuric acid 



•04 



Insoluble siliceous matters . 



. 92^31 





100-00 





•14 



N N 2 



