— 74 — 
and of the ground water and we place the analyses of the 
ashes of the hays side by side for easier comparison. 
Carbon . 
Weld Co. 
Per cent. 
. OOO. . 
Otero Co. 
Per cent. 
. 020 
Sand . 
1.765 .. 
. . . . 1.261 
Silica . 
, i . 5 i 5 . . . 
.858 
Phosphoric acid . 
4.459. .. 
- - - - 3-714 
Sulphuric acid . 
. 5.636... 
•••• 5-477 
Chlorine . 
. 6.776... 
... . 7.721 
Lime . 
23.905. . 
- -• -24-524 
Magnesia . 
• 5 • 95 1 •• 
• •• • 3 • 1 4 1 
Ferric oxide . 
■ • 397 t 
. 683 
Aluminic oxide . 
• • 253 \ 
Brown oxide of manganese 
. .188.. 
. 156 
Potash . 
. 23 - 934 - • 
....28 . 209 
Soda . 
. 1 . 840 .. 
.... 2.055 
Carbonic acid. 
•25.151.. 
- - --24-053 
Less O equivalent to CL . . 
101.768 
- 1-523 
101.777 
i -739 
100.245 
100.038 
The results of our study an 
d observations as to the 
effect of alfalfa growing upon our 
soils are 
briefly stated as 
follows : _ 
The biological relations of the soil are probably ma¬ 
terially improved by the maintenance of a more uniform 
tempature during the heat of the summer days, by 
the maintenance of greater uniformity ^ of moisture, 
and by a supply of organic matter. 1 he shade and 
moisture furnished or conserved by a growth of alfalfa 
must evidently exert a pronounced influence upon the 
soil conditions, and not only improve the biological con¬ 
ditions, but also favor chemical changes, particularly humifi¬ 
cation processes. 
There is added yearly to the surface portions of the 
soil a large amount of mineral matter by the falling por¬ 
tions of the plant’ leaves, stems, etc., which, with the shade 
and moisture furnished to facilitate their decay, amounts 
to an excellent top dressing. The slowness with which 
straw, leaves, etc., decay in our soils with the. ordinary sup¬ 
ply of moisture, almost prevents such material from serv¬ 
ing any good purpose as manure or as a means of forming 
humus in the soil, and anything which facilitates this.pro¬ 
cess is of a decided advantage ; for the physical condition 
of our soils, while good, can be improved in this direction. 
