Drainage of the Upper Thames Valley. 373 
** My dear SiU, " London, July 2C, 1870. 
" I have the pleasure of enclosing a careful analysis of 
the soil from Stanton Harcourt, which you sent me for exami- 
nation some time ago, 
" Like all soils which have been in grass for some time, it 
contains a good deal of organic matter. The soil may be de- 
scribed as a clay-marl, for it contains nearly as much carbonate 
of lime as clay, and no appreciable quantity of sand. The pro- 
portions of alumina and oxide of iron soluble in acid are not 
large, and the soil, though difficult in character, certainly is not a 
stiff clay soil. 
" It contains rather more phosphoric acid and available potash 
than usually occur in soils of fair productive powers, and in 
my opinion, when broken up early in autumn, will yield two 
good white crops without manure. 
" When well worked in autumn I believe this soil will be 
found productive, and specially well adapted for corn-crops (wheat 
in particular), and clover and seeds. 
" For root-crops it ought to be ploughed up as roughly as 
possible before frost sets in, and left exposed to the air in ridges, 
and not be ploughed again in spring, but merely harrowed down. 
" This soil from Stanton Harcourt, in my opinion, is better 
adapted for arable culture than for pasture, and I have not the 
slightest doubt that it will pay far better to put this land under 
the plough than to lay it down in permanent pasture. 
" Believe me, my dear Sir, yours faithfully, 
"Augustus Voelckee. 
" Josepli Druce, Esq." 
Composition of a Sample of Soil from Stanton Marcourt. 
Soil dried at 
212° F. 
Organic matter and water of combination .. .. 13'97 
Oxide of iron (chiefly protoxide 5'11 
Alumina 7'29 
Carbonate of lime 32*51 
Sulphate of lime -65 
Magnesia -67 
Potash -56 
Soda -21 
Phosphoric acid '17 
Insoluble siliceous matter (fine clay) 38*86 
100-00 
With regard to its capabilities, Dr. Voelcker further observes, 
" its gravelly subsoil adapts it to be used as arable rather than as 
meadow land, and requires no underdraining, being in itself 
sufficiently porous to carry off the rainfall." 
