212 THE FliESH-WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND 
the widest part. Here the conditions are absolutely different from 
those existing in the Ness Area. There is no moorland peat 
formation at Lismore that can possibly drain into the lakes. The 
geological formation throughout the island is limestone. In reply to 
a question regarding this limestone, the Geological Survey write : — 
" The Lismore limestone belongs to the metamorphic rocks of the 
Highlands, and is probably the equivalent of the Blair Athole lime- 
stone."" The land is almost entirely in a more or less cultivated state ; 
a fine, bright green grass sward covers a large portion of the island. 
The bright green appearance of the grass-land is worthy of mention ; 
it at once arrests the eye, as being something different from what 
usually occurs in the Highlands. Large numbers of cattle and sheep 
are maintained upon the island, so that instead of humic acids an 
appreciable supply of ammonia salts will be likely to gain access 
to the lakes. The climate is mild, as the number of luxuriant 
Fuchsia shrubs in the gardens of the cottagers testifies. The three 
lochs on Lismore are but slightly elevated above sea-level, and are 
sheltered from wind by adjacent low hills. A marked difference between 
these and the lochs of the Ness Area is, that the waters of these lochs 
are heavilv charged with calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is 
not itself directly a plant- food, but with many plants the presence of 
calcium salts will lead to the increase of their absorption of ammonium 
and potassium salts. By other plants the presence of calcium in large 
quantities cannot be tolerated. It is not at present possible to give a 
comparative analysis of the water of several of the lakes under investi- 
gation. It may, however, be interesting to give an analysis of the water 
of Loch Baile a' Ghobhainn at Lismore, by Dr W. E. Tetlow, along 
with one of the water of the Lake of Geneva, as published by Forel. 
One litre (or one million parts) contains (parts or) milligrams : — 
Lake of 
Loch Baile a' 
Geneva. 
Ghobhainn. 
Sodium and potassium chlorides . 
1-8 
3 725 
Sodium sulphate .... 
15-0 
Sulphuric acid ..... 
trace 
Ammonium sulphate .... 
trace 
Anmionia ...... 
trace 
Calcium sul|)hate . . . . 
47-9 
Basic calcium phosphate 
o'*694 
Calcium nitrate ..... 
1-0 
Nitric acid ...... 
trace 
Calcium carbonate .... 
73-9 
151-161 
3-7 
2-635 
Lithium ...... 
trace 
Alumina and ferric oxide 
i'-9 
Iron carbonate ..... 
... 
l'-158 
Magnesium carbonate .... 
1-414 
Organic matter and loss 
n-9 
30-913 
Total solids .... 
157 parts 
191 parts 
in one million 
in one million 
