REPORT OF THE SOCIETY'S CONSULTING CHEMIST. 569 



The soil was a black sandy loam of very light character, and 

 containing but little clay. It was practically a peaty sand. A perusal 

 of the analysis shows it to be well supplied with vegetable matter, 

 but that the chief wants of the soil for plants generally are lime and 

 potash. It will be noted that magnesia was present to greater extent 

 than lime, and this emphasizes the need for liming. That the soil 

 succeeded well for Rhododendrons can well be understood. 



(c) Two samples of soil were sent me for advice as to what was 

 required to make them useful for forest trees. The soils gave the 

 following results :— 



(Soils dried, at 212° F.) 





No. I. 



No. 2. 



Organic matter and loss on heating 



3-74 



3-36 



Oxide of iron .... 



4"04 



3-89 



Alumina ..... 



224 



2-28 



Lime ..... 



•16 



•13 



Magnesia ..... 



•07 



•13 



Potash ..... 



•14 



•18 



Soda 



•21 



•II 



Phosphoric acid 



•28 



•23 



Sulphuric acid .... 



•01 



•02 



Insoluble sihceous matter . 



89-11 



89-67 





loo-oo 



lOOOO 



Nitrogen ..... 



•156 



•130 



The soils, in general composition, were very much alike, but both 

 were extremely poor ones, showing deficiencies in vegetable matter, 

 lime, and potash. On the other hand, they were quite well supplied 

 with phosphoric acid. On such soils as these, no doubt, firs would do 

 quite well, but for forest trees generally there is no question that lime 

 would be a distinct requisite. 



(d) A sample of soil was sent me for examination as regards its 

 suitability for growing hops, and of this the analysis was 



(Soil dried at 212*^ F.) 



Organic matter and loss on heating 



4-18 



Oxide of iron .... 



2-48 



Alumina ..... 



2-6i 



Lime . . . . • 



•46 



Magnesia ..... 



•33 



Potash ..... 



•24 



Soda ...... 



•16 



Phosphoric acid . . . . 



•40 



Sulphuric acid . . . . . 



•05 



Insoluble sihcates and sand 



89-09 





lOOOO 



Nitrogen . , . . . 



•206 



The soil was a somewhat light clay loam, and was in a good mechani- 

 cal condition. Though for ordinary purposes the amount of nitrogen 

 contained would probably be sufficient, yet for hop-growing the supply 

 of more nitrogen by the use of shoddy or similar organic material would 

 be distinctly advisable. In phosphoric acid the soil was decidedly 

 well supplied, but the amount of potash would need supplementing. 

 It would also, I think, be advisable to apply lime occasionally. 



VOL. JCL. 2 Q 



