136 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
In connection with these analyses of peats, a sample of the soil of 
the Plain-field was examined. It was collected in 1871, before the 
experiments were begun, from different parts of Section CC. The air- 
dried soil was found to contain 
Moisture expelled at 212°... ; ‘ , g 2 (98.27% 
Volatile matter other than moisture . ain pe ‘ . 38.64 
Ash , ; . : ; , f . t , 88.09 
100.00 
The soil contained, among other things, — 
Sand, etc., insoluble in acid . - ; : : : 82.93%, 
Lime ae : . : : : : ; ‘ an. See 
Phosphoric acid. : : P ‘ 3 , ; 0.25 
Potash. : ‘ . . ‘ q ’ ; - 0.048 
Nitrogen nipuntd : : ; é . F 0.22 
It will be seen from the table that the beneficial action of oyster-shell 
lime and ground oyster-shells is constant and general. Each of the 
three kinds of crops profited by them, but particularly the beans and 
the ruta-bagas. Even oyster-shell lime from the gas-works (spent gas- 
lime) helped the beans and the ruta-bagas, though oyster-shell lime that 
had been mixed with common salt did not. The quicklimes increased 
the barley crops as a general rule, manifestly by setting free some 
assimilable nitrogen compound from the humus in the soil. It is note- 
worthy in this connection that, even as regards leaves, the oyster-shell 
lime has usually given better crops than the ground oyster-shells, al- 
though the latter contained, of course, a quantity of animal matter 
proper to the shell which must necessarily be destroyed when the shells 
are burnt ina kiln. It would be interesting to try what influence upon 
vegetation would be produced by a mixture of the two. The good effect 
produced by the oyster-shell products upon the bean crops is mani- 
festly due to the presence of some special fertilizing substance in the 
shells,* for the other kinds of lime did the beans but little good, ex- - 
cepting only the Brandon lime on A, and the soap-boiler’s waste, 
which is carbonate of lime holding traces of a sodium salt in its pores. 
The soap-boiler’s waste was useless on the barley'squares, though it 
* Compare various analyses of comminuted sea-shells by Pierre, Annales chimie 
t physique, [3] 37, 81. 
