170 
On Breaking up Grass Lands. 
cropped with corn as long as they could get a new com for an old 
one. For many years those portions which were not planted 
appear not to have received any improvement from either the 
occupiers or proprietors. The cultivation of that which had been 
broken up was abandoned to nature, and those portions which 
a few fragments of chert, the whole of the soil will pass through a fine 
sieve. 100 parts of it consist of — 
Organic matter ...... 6 74 
Clay, sand, &c., insoluble in acids . . . 78'09 
Alumina (soluble in acids) .... 5 75 
Silica (ditto) ..... trace 
Peroxide of iron (ditto) .... 6-24 
Lime ........ 0 57 
Magnesia 043 
Potash . . . . . . . 1-08 
Soda 0-73 
Sulphuric acid ...... mere trace. 
Phosphoric acid ...... ditto. 
99-63 
No chlorine or carbonic acid. 
In looking over this analysis you will be struck with the smallness in 
quantity of many of the essentials of vegetable life, and the total absence 
of others. 
The estimation of the sulphuric and phosphoric acids was attempted on 
unusually large quantities, 500 grains of soil being employed for the for- 
mer, and 1000 grains for the latter substance. The quantity, however, 
which was collected was too small for weighing in the most delicate 
balance. On the other hand, the quantity of organic matter is far greater 
than in most fertile soils, in ail probability due to the district having been 
the site of an ancient forest. 
The available silica is also at the minimum. The series of exhausting 
crops, which this soil in its virgin state was made to produce, has no doubt 
robbed it of this most indispensable ingredient. 
The methods of improving the Braydon land are obvious, but. will of 
course be attended with considerable outlay. In the first place the me- 
chanical texture of the soil must be altered, either by admixture or partial 
burning. This is absolutely necessary if a fertile soil is aimed at. Stifle- 
burning, as you observed, would be the best method of procedure. A 
good liming would be of the utmost value. It would not only add to the 
soil an ingredient in which it is very deiicient, but would have the effect 
of setting free silica and alkalies, of which there is abundance in the 
clay, but not in a state for assimilation by plants. Lime would also serve 
to hasten the decomposition of, and render soluble, the vegetable matters 
of the soil, which mainly consist of minute roots, &c., having very little 
tendency to decay, and therefore of little or no value to vegetation. 
The additional use of bones and sulphuric acid, and of a moderate dose 
of common salt, would, I should think, place this land on a footing of fer- 
tility equal to any in the neighbourhood. Whether such an expectation 
would justify the outlay of much capital is a question I shall leave for the 
decision of agriculturists. 
I am, my dear sir, 
Most faithfully, yours, 
J. Thomas Way. 
