File:The rubber tree book (1913) (14799028663).jpg

Identifier: rubbertreebook00macl (find matches)
Title: The rubber tree book
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Maclaren, W. F. de Bois
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Maclaren & sons
Contributing Library: University of British Columbia Library
Digitizing Sponsor: University of British Columbia Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
o mislead ananalyst. It is well, however, that planters should be able to makesome simple and yet very informative tests for themselves.Acidity of the soil can be easily detected by the use of smallpieces of litmus paper, which can be obtained from any chemistfor two or three pence. This litmus paper is manufacturedby dipping a specially-prepared paper in a solution of litmus.It has the peculiar property of turning to red when in contactwith acid. If the litmus paper is inserted into the middle of ahandful of soil and turns red, it is a sign that the soil is acid.The acid might be the harmless carbonic acid always present inthe soil, but in that case the carbonic acid would volatilizeas the paper dried. If the paper remains red when dried it is aproof that the soil contains fixed acids or acid salts and shouldhave an application of lime to correct the fault. Hydrochloric acid is constantly used by agricultural chemistsin testing for the presence of lime in the soil. If, when a few 244
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. -View showing Weeds heaped in Lines on gentle slopes tostop yVash of Soil. MANURING 247 drops of hydrochloric acid are poured on to a handful of soil,there is a foaming or effervescence, that is a sign of the presenceof calcium or magnesium carbonate. If no foaming or effer-vescence takes place it is evident that lime is not present, atleast in the form of carbonate. The tests employed by analytical chemists in analysingsoils are, of course, more complicated and more exhaustive.The soil is generally ignited to determine by loss the amount ofhumus and combined water and part is also treated in solutionwith various acids to detect the presence and the proportionsof nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium,etc., and to indicate what deficiencies should be supplied. Adeficiency of any of these chemical elements always manifestsitself in poor and backward growth and in liability to disease.The benefits of manuring are founded on the axiom that nogreat abundance of the ge

Note About Images