35§ JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
REPORT OF CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1916. 
By Dr. J. A. Voelcker, M.A., F.L.S. 
During the year 1916 thirteen samples were sent direct by members 
for analysis, and, in addition, several matters, forming subjects of 
research at the Wisley Gardens, were examined from the chemical 
side. 
The samples sent by members comprised : 
Manures ....... 2 
Water ........ 1 
Soils . . . . . . . .9 
Injured orchid plants ..... 1 
13 
1. Manures. — These were samples of two manures used by a 
fruit-grower, but presented no particular features of interest. 
2. Water. — The one sample sent was from a much-polluted supply, 
and decidedly hard in character. 
3. Soils. — Some of the samples sent brought out, on analysis, 
features that may be worthy of notice. 
(a) Soils containing magnesia in excess. 
I have previously drawn attention to cases where magnesia has 
been found present in soils in excess of lime, and have pointed out 
the coincidence of this with unsatisfactory practical results. The 
following are two further instances in point : 
(Soils dried at ioo° C.) 
A 
B 
Organic matter and loss on heating 
% 
• 8-23 
% 
6*04 
Oxide of iron ..... 
• 4-83 
3*44 
Alumina ...... 
4-88 
4-48 
Lime ...... 
•23 
•36 
Magnesia ...... 
•53 
1-66 
Potash ...... 
•26 
•73 
Soda ...... 
•31 
•41 
Phosphoric acid ..... 
•3i 
•08 
Sulphuric acid ..... 
•08 
•09 
Insoluble silicates and sand 
. 80-34 
82-71 
IOO'OO 
ioo-oo 
• -307 
•230 
A was a granitic soil from the Grampians. It had abundant 
vegetable matter, but the amount of lime was very small, and the 
need of liming the land was further accentuated by the fact of mag- 
nesia being present in excess. The quantity of potash was not large, 
but the soil was distinctly rich in phosphoric acid. 
B was a soil from Worcestershire, a red clay loam, with clay sub- 
soil. In this there was more than four times as much magnesia as 
