Art. XL —Analysis of Soils from Mona Vale , near Ross , Van Diemen’s Land. By Count Streleski. Communicated by Wm. Kermode, Esq., M.L.CL 
PHYSICAL 
PROPERTY. 
CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF 100 GRAINS. 
Number 
of 
Reference 
Power 
of 
Absorbt. 
Power 
of 
Radiation. 
Capacity 
for 
Moisture. 
Specific 
Gravity. 
Silica. 
Alumina. 
Iron. 
Lime. 
Magnesia. 
Potass. 
Soda. 
Sulphuric 
Acid. 
Chlorine. 
Cobalt. 
Water. 
Animal & 
Vegetable 
Matter. 
AGRICULTURAL CHARACTER, AS GIVEN BY 
• 
MR. KERMODE. 
1 
4-12.6° 
—2° 
+ 18gr. 
1.18 
14.865 
2.750 
traces. 
16.000 
traces. 
2.000 
combined 
with 
potass. 
0.500 
traces. 
— 
24.450 
37.750 
Soil from a drained swamp, of the highest 
productive power for turnips, rape, and 
grasses, yields five tons of bay per acre. 
2 
414.2° 
—0,5° 
417.6 
1.00 
19.542 
8.352 
3.503 
3.020 
traces. 
— 
traces. 
1.000 
traces. 
5.702 
22.800 
34.500 
Soil from the same swamp (materially dif¬ 
fering in its constituents) higher, but like 
the preceding, too strong and rank for wheat. 
3 
49° 
—3 a 
48.00 
1.70 
54.920 
6.752 
14.996 
1.731 
— 
— 
1.500 of 
the iron. 
— 
9.300 
9.700 
Of the lowest productive power; subject 
to frost. 
4 
49.8° 
—2.5® 
46.66 
1 
1.30 
51.858 
15.377 
9.265 
— 
— 
— 
— 
0.500 of 
the iron. 
— 
_ 
- 
Of the lowest productive power; subject 
to frost. 
REMARKS. 
A.—The power of absorption of solar heat, spoken ot under the head ot Physical 
Property, was obtained by ascertaining the difference of temperature which existed 
between a thermometer, covered by one-twentieth part of an inch of the analysed soil, 
and a naked (reflecting) one, both equally exposed to the action of the sun. 
—The power of Celestial Radiation was arrived at from the difference which existed 
between one thermometer, covered by the soil and exposed to radiation towards the 
heavens on a clear night, and a thermometer screened from such radiation. 
C.—The determination of both these properties are important to the farmer; as a soil 
possessing the greatest power of absorption of heat is the best suited for early crops— 
whilst that which radiates more, or gives off more of its heat at night, is liable to frost, 
Government Cottage , Launceston , 27 th September , 1842. 
and is only fit for that season, and such crops as are least liable to injury from that 
cause. This last physical property of the soil, so prejudicial to the farmer, might be in 
great measure obliterated by augmenting its vegetable constituents, through manure and 
cultivation, and ploughing in of grasses. 
D —The Capacity for Moisture, means that property which a soil, deprived of its 
water, has to attract moisture from the atmosphere. The quantities therefore expressed 
under that head, refer to the difference between the weight of 100 grains of a dried soil, 
and that of an exposed one to the action of a saturated atmosphere; not less important 
datum to the farmer, us a soil which attiacts more moisture from the atmosphere than 
another, requires less ot irrigation, and vice versa. 
P, E, Streleski, 
