253 
Soils. 
10. Calcined Ironstone. 
A member of the Society, having at band a quantity of this 
material, in the form of powder, thought that it might contain 
sufficient lime and phosphoric acid to make it worth while 
applying as a dressing to grass land. On analysis, however, 
it was found to contain only a trace of phosphoric acid, and : — 
Per cent. 
Lime ....... 2 - 37 
Silica . . . . - . . 36'44 
it being, thus, practically worthless for manurial purposes. 
C. Soils. 
The examination of samples of soil has been instrumental 
in bringing out, in many cases, explanation of observed facts, 
and in pointing to manifest deficiencies in certain constituents 
of the soil. The following are analyses of two samples of soil 
from a field of low-lying land in North Wales. On the portion 
represented by “A” almost nothing would grow except a 
mass of sorrel, while on soil “ B ” quite a fair crop of roots 
was raised. 
A 
B 
Organic matter and loss on heating 
45-40 
59-95 
Oxide of iron and alumina . 
6-53 
6-81 
Lime ...... 
0-22 
0-99 
Magnesia, alkalies, &c. 
1-32 
1-26 
Insoluble silicates and sand . 
46-53 
30-99 
100-00 
100-00 
A comparison of the two analyses will show how marked 
was the difference between the amounts of lime in the two 
soils, the presence of this to a greater extent in “ B ” having, 
doubtless, “ sweetened ” the land. 
In another instance a member sent me a sample of soil 
from a field which he described as “in parts growing absolutely 
nothing.” He mentioned that six years previously lime had 
been applied on one strip, and here barley grew quite fairly. 
Analysis of the soil brought out the fact of its great poverty 
in lime, while the result of applying lime supplied a useful 
confirmation of what has been so clearly demonstrated in the 
Woburn Field Experiments. 
Organic matter and loss on heating . . 3"56 
Oxide of iron and alumina . . . 4"42 
Lime ........ 0'08 
Alkalies, magnesia, &c. .... 0'25 
Phosphoric acid . . . . . . 0‘ 12 
Insoluble siliceous matter .... 91 ‘57 
100-00 
Nitrogen 0*117 
