1s. 3d.; 2nd class, L8. 17s. 1d.; 3rd class, none.
Sleeping cars - 1st class, 13 dollars; 2nd class, 3 dollars.
Tickets may be obtained through Messrs, DOWSETT and Co., 3, Lincoln's
Inn Fields, London, direct from Liverpool to California, or any other
State en route.
ANALYSIS OF MERCED SOILS.
Having fitted up a portion of one of my offices with all the requisites
for carrying out quantitative analyses of surface soils, I requested
Professor Lobley, F.G.S., etc., to analyse the four samples of soils
which I brought with me from Merced.
A general analysis of four samples of soil from Merced, California, has
given the following results: -
SAMPLE A.
Organic matter (Humus) 5.5
Soluble inorganic matter 11.75
Insoluble silica and silicates 82.75
- - - -
100.00
SAMPLE B.
Organic matter (Humus) 4.25
Soluble inorganic matter 14.45
Insoluble silica and silicates 81.30
- - - -
100.00
SAMPLE C.
Organic matter (Humus) 5.25
Soluble inorganic matter 16.75
Insoluble silica and silicates 78.00
- - - -
100.00
SAMPLE D.
Organic matter (Humus) 3.5
Soluble inorganic matter 12.0
Insoluble silica and silicates 84.5
- - - -
100.00
The organic matter is available for plant growth.
The inorganic matter, soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, is (with the
exception of the alumina it may contain) composed of fertilising
material. The substances found in the soluble inorganic matter of soils
are lime, magnesia, alumina, silica, phosphoric acid, oxide of iron,
oxide of manganese, potash and soda.
