February t, 1882.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
an4 
thro 
tree 
when the aim 1 the first three pa;: 
30th of original 
different parts 
of article, showing that the soil 
id by loss of solid matter when 
ng.— Cur.-] 
nical Society for October 1881.) 
read last year before tho Society, 
experiments which showed the in- 
growth of plants in a soil of the 
tat soil. In those experiments the 
tree by Humboldt, who 
icon adopted for the last 
ors of Botany in Euro- 
the majority of botanical 
value 
artha- 
of a bark collector a hasty trip 
to a distance of three miles up 
mountain. In the bottom of 
of a cliff a number of plants w 
to. The 
plants, ;i 
India. 
— The samples' of " Original bark" were, as sug- 
gested by Mr. David Howard, collected from the lower 
part of the stem of each tree immediately above the 
roots, owing to the renewing process having l>ccn per- 
formed on the upper portions of the trunks. 
— No. 21 was no doubt exchanged by mistake with 
No. 21. 
• 7th.— It seems to ino that cordial thanks arc due to 
Mr. J. i'.. Howard and Air. David Howard for the very 
Interesting and practically useful analysis of these bark 
jjajnples. 
Htli.— A further analysis at a future time might, I 
think, be mode by Borne quinine manufacturer of renewed 
barks of difforonl ages and also of •• scraped" bark from 
the best species, likewise of barks obtained from varieties 
011 individual tree-, considered to possess special excel- 
lence in order to meet the views for the dissemination 
of superior sorts us expressed by the Secretary of State 
for India. 
[For the Government General Order, 011 Colonel Bed- 
dome's Report and the above correspondence, dated 29th 
August 1HH1, No. 1,280, see page 5!>2.— Ed. T. A.] 
THE ill-'PECTS OP THE GROWTH OF PLANTS 
ON THIC AMOUNT OP MATTER REMOVED FROM 
THE SOIL BY RAIN. 
By E. W. Pkkvost, Pa. D. 
* [Herewith I Bond you Chrmical Journal for October, 
I think article p. 175 uveful for your 1. A.; at any rata 
mere was no vegetation. The amount 
: l , -V as 1 2 '5 grams (48 grains per gallon) 
d," and 50 grains (220 grains per gal- 
ilank." 
1st season I have repeated the experi- 
in tho place of shallow pans large glazed 
18 inches broad, with perpendicular 
high, and provided with a hole at the 
>ioh^ the drainage- water flowing was col- 
Were placed 100 lb. of soil, which, when 
led the pans up to 1 inch of the top, 
) inches for the growth of tho plants, 
an analysis of the soil : — 
alculated on the dry soil— 
Soluble salts (containing sulph- 
ates and traces of chlorides) 
Organic matter 
(Containing nitrogen equal to 
ammonia . . . , 
Si0 2 .. .. 
P 2 0 5 .. • 
CaC0 3 
AljOj 
Fe 2 0 3 
MgO 
K 2 0 
5-06 per cent. 
0-680 
11-80 
0- 436) 
24-54 
1- 185 
53-98 
3-065 
3-84 
0-58 
0-451 
No. 5, beans ; in 
Dial clover) ; in N< 
left blank. All tl 
sheltered spot, and 
99-441 
Owing to the delay experienced in obtaining the kind 
of pan which I desired, I decided to repeat the same 
experiments as last year in shallow pans, holding only 
.28 lb. of soil (depth of soil 4 inches), which had been 
coarsely sifted : therefore on May 4th I sowed in No. I 
clover seeds, and No. II was left " blank." 
It was not until late in the season that I was ablo 
to sow seeds in the large pans, but on June 18th there 
was sown in No. 3 cabbago seed; in No. 4, wheat; in 
" cow-gruss " (common poreu- 
jarden turnips ; and No. 8 was 
is were placed in a moderately 
unded by a spa -ions wire cage, 
so as to exclude birds, leaves, &0. 
As the season was favourable, tho plants flourished 1 
up to tho date when it was considere 1 necessary to 
discontinue the experiment, and, with i ie excep-ion of 
tho wheat and turnips, all reached ma'urity, and tho 
growth of the clover ha I been strong uiough to allow 
of a crop being taken off. 
When it appeared that the plants wok- Buffering from 
drought) equal quantities of distilled wa fir were poured 
upon them evenly, mid this water amounted altogether 
to 3 gallous (9 litres). The druhmgo-v -iter which had 
collected in tho jars below tho pans, ai: I had been from 
time to time evaporate 1 iu basins uea Iv to dryness, 
No. I, to 20-21; hires ; No. II. 
1; No. I, to ll-yo; No. 5, to* 
lo. 7, to 18-95 ; No. 8. to 14 95. 
removed' from the soil on ScptJ 
tho interval, May 4 — September 
11*87 gallons, aud duriiu* tho 
unbur 21, li-7 iui'hos ol raiu 
Ion ; to (his qiii-utiiy the 2 gal- 
amounted in tin 
to 24-51 ; No. 8 
11-17 ; No. 0. t< 
interval, 
= 13-629 
