SCOURING LANDS OF CENTRAL SOMERSET. 
301 
Moisture 
• 
. 7*12 
Organic matter and water of combination 
. 14*76 
Oxides of iron and alumina 
. 15*87 
Carbonate of lime 
. 2*53 
Carbonate of magnesia . 
. 2*08 
Alkalies 
. 2*60 
Insoluble siliceous matter 
. 55*04 
100*00 
No constituent which does not occur in good land could 
be detected in the preceding soils, nor are the component 
parts present in abnormal relative proportions. 
In the next place I examined a soil from notoriously bad 
land, on the estate of Sir Alexander Hood, at Snepton 
Mallet. This soil contained in 100 parts— 
Moisture . . . . .4*54 
Organic matter and water of combination . 14*40 
Oxides of iron and alumina . . . 14*45 
Sulphate of lime .... *26 
Carbonate of lime .... 14*80 
Magnesia ..... *96 
Alkalies...... *93 
Insoluble siliceous matter . . . 49*66 
100*00 
This soil was rather dark coloured. The dark colour is 
due partly to protoxide of iron, partly to the large quantities 
of organic matter. Although not injurious in itself, an excess 
of inert organic matter, and particularly protoxide of iron, 
indicates a condition of the soil which is not favorable to the 
healthy growth of plants. In a porous, well-cultivated soil, 
freely penetrated by the atmosphere, the accumulation of 
organic matter never becomes excessive, nor does such a soil 
contain protoxide of iron in large quantities. The presence 
of the latter in considerable proportions always shows that 
the soil is not sufficiently aerated in order to produce a 
healthy and nutritious herbage. As protoxide of iron is 
insoluble in water, I am of opinion it is not injurious to 
plants, but it indicates a bad physical condition, which affects 
the herbage more than the chemical constitution of the soil. 
The next soil which I examined was a lias-clay subsoil 
from Cossington. The analysis gave the following results : 
Composition of a Lias-Clay Subsoil from 
Cossington. 
Water ..... 
. 3*05 
Organic matter and water of combination 
. 5*11 
Oxides of iron and alumina 
. 6*98 
Carbonate of lime 
. 40*93 
Alkalies and magnesia . 
. 2*96 
Insoluble siliceous matter (clay) 
. 40*97 
100*00 
