Absorption of Potash by Soils of hnotvn Composition. 335 
Experiment No. 2. — On Stiff Clay. 
The clay used in this experiment was an extremely stiff and 
retentative Essex clay, containing but little lime and sand, as the 
following analysis further shows. 
Mechanical Analysis. 
Moisture 
Organic matter and water of combination 
Clay 
Lime 
Sand .. . . .". . 
Chemical Analysis. 
Moisture 
Organic matter and water of combination 
Phosphoric acid 
Carbonate of lime 
Sulphate of lime 
Magnesia 
Alkalies and loss 
Insoluble siliceous matter (chiefly clay) 
Subsoil. 
Surface-soil. 
9-46 . 
3-91 
4-87 . 
. .. 4-80 
75-29 . 
. .. 78-13 
1-12 . 
2-19 
9-26 . 
. .. 10-97 
100-00 
100-00 
Subsoft. 
Surface-soil. 
9-46 . 
. .. 3-91 
4-87 . 
4-80 
17-38 . 
. .. 7-85 
•06 . 
•04 
1-02 . 
. .. 2-08 
•13 . 
•15 
•92\ 
•32 
•45/ • 
65-71 . 
. .. 80-85 
100-00 
100-00 
1750 grains of subsoil and an equal quantity of surface soil 
were shaken up in a bottle with the potash-solution, and allowed 
to remain in contact for a period of four days. One decigallon 
of the liquid was then filtered off, and the amount of potash 
accurately determined, as in the preceding experiment. 
Anhydrous Potash (K 0). 
Before contact with soil the solution contained, m\ ^.2^3 
1000 grains 
After contact 
Difference 
•390 
•814 
The whole liquid employed in this experiment consequently 
parted with 22*792 grains of caustic potash, which were fixed by 
3500 grains of soil. 1000 grains of this clay accordingly 
absorbed 6"51 grains of anhydrous potash. 
Experiment No. 3. — On a Fertile Sandy Loam. 
The soil used in this experiment was a friable, red-coloured, 
fertile, light, turnip loam, and yielded on analysis the following 
results : — 
2 B 2 
