Phoi^pliatic Matiwes for Root-Crops. 
61 
However, soon after, their jcrrowth was checked, and the roots, on 
inspection, were found to be all more or less attacked. They 
presented a most extraordinary appearance, beings forked and 
twisted into the most fantastical forms and covered with wart- 
like excrescences, exhibiting thus the character of anbury in its 
most malig:nant form. Part of the field was covered with a 
brownish-coloured sandy soil, part with a red-coloured ferru- 
ginous soil. Both these soils, and the subsoil on which the red- 
coloured soil rested, were analyzed, and furnished the following 
general results : — 
' No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. 
Organic matter and water of combination 5-36 4*82 7*64 
Oxides of iron and alumina 5"78 12'16 22"77 
Carbonate of lime "25 "lo '44 
Alkaline salts and magnesia '41 '46 "69 
Phosphoric acid traces traces traces 
Sulphuric acid "08 not determined 
Insoluble siliceous matter (chiefly sand) 88-12 82-41 68-46 
100-00 100-00 100-00 
Xo. 1 was taken from the top of the hill, where the turnips 
were most affected by anbury. 
No. 2 was a red-coloured soil from the slope of the hill, where 
the turnips were likewise much diseased. 
No. 3 was a deep-red-coloured ferruginous subsoil, on which 
No. 2 rested. In this case, the manure evidently carried on the 
plant up to a certain point, and Jien failed to bring the crop to 
maturity. Now, if we look at the composition of these sandv 
soils, we cannot feel surprised that on such land superphosphate 
alone did not produce sound roots. 
In the first place, the proportion of lime, especially in the 
surface-soils, is totally inadequate to meet the wants of the crop 
of turnips. We cannot doubt, therefore, that this deficiency w^as 
one, if not the principal, cause of failure. 
In the next place, the amount of available alkalies is very 
small, as it often is on sandy soils, and there was an insufficient 
amount of organic matter, which appears to be highly beneficial 
in such soils to root-crops, and neither of these two deficiencies 
did the superphosphate in any way correct. But even here the 
superphosphate did not fail to manifest its usual invigorating 
effect upon the young plant, showing plainly that it did answer 
the purpose for which it is so justly renowned. If through its 
instrumentality alone sound roots were not matured, we must not 
lay the blame to its charge, but rather blame ourselves for not 
also providing with the phosphates the requisite amount of 
organic matters, lime, and potash, to the absence of which the 
