568 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULl URAL SOCIETY. 



as Roses in potS; when watered continually with this water, did not 

 thrive as they should. The analysis of the water was as follows : — 



Grains per galloo. 

 Total solid residue . . . .14-56 



Oxygen absorbed by organic matter . "ii 

 Lime . . . . . .2-80 



Magnesia . . . . • '91 



Sulphuric acid . . . .1-87 



Nitric acid as nitrates . . . None 

 Chlorine . . . . • 2*38 



Equal to chloride of sodium. . 3*92 



It will be seen from the above that neither lime nor magnesia was 

 present in sufficient quantity to lead to the belief that the water would 

 have any injurious effects upon plants generally. The water contained 

 no free acid, nor were iron salts present in any excess, and I could 

 not find any grounds for thinking that the water was one generally 

 unsuitable for horticultural purposes. 



4. Soils, — From the 15 samples of soil sent for analysis, a few cases 

 are selected which presented special features. 



{a) A sample of soil sent from Lingfield, Sussex, was taken from a 

 field which was believed to be deficient in lime and to have become 

 very poor through bad treatment. It was a rather heavy loam, 

 passing into a yellow clay subsoil. The soil appeared to be in want of 

 draining. The analysis of it was as foUov/s 



(Soil dried at 212° F.) 



Organic matter and loss on heating . 5" 22 



Oxide of iron and alumina. . . 6*45 



Lime . . . . . . '57 



Magnesia, alkalies, &c. . . . '59 



Phosphoric acid .... '09 



Insoluble siliceous matters . . 8 7-08 



The great deficiency of this soil was in phosphoric acid. Of 

 lime there was more present than had been expected. This appears 

 to me to be a soil on which the use of basic slag would be most 

 effective. 



(b) A sample of soil was sent me by a foreign member of the Society 

 from gardens at Delden, Holland. It was stated that plants such as 

 Geraniums, Calceolarias, and Wallflowers did badly, but that 

 Rhododendrons &c. grew very luxuriantly, 

 follows :-— 



(Soil dried at 212° F.) 

 Organic matter and loss on heatmg 



The analysis was as 



Oxide of iron 

 Alumina 

 Lime 

 Magnesia 

 Potash 

 Soda 



Phosphoric acid 

 Sulphuric acid . 

 Insoluble siliceous matter and sand 



6-69 

 •70 

 ri6 

 •40 

 •43 

 •19 

 •05 

 •20 

 •03 

 9015 



lOO'OO 



Nitrogen 's?? 



