UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. BULLETIN NO. 8. [In order to render the results of investigations and experiments conducted by the Agricultural De- partment of the University of California more quick- ly and more generally available than has heretofore been done through the annual or biennial reports, it is proposed to embody hereafter, in the form of ''Bulletins," to be issued as often as may seem de- sirable, reports of results, as well as such other discus- sions, information or answers to questions as may be of general interest. It is intended to make these bulletins, as a rule, short enough for insertion in the daily or weekly papers of the State, and proof-slips of the same will be regularly mailed to papers apply- ing therefor. The substance ot these bulletins will ultimately be embodied in a more complete and con^, nected form, in the annual reports of the College of Agriculture.] Examinations of Fertilizing Materials. 1. Analysis of the Ash of Spent Tan-bark. — This material is sometimes obtainable in con- siderable quantities from neighboring tan-yards; and the sample was furnished by Mr. John H. Wheeler, Secretary of the Board of Viticul- tural Commissioners, with a view to ascertaining its manurial value and especially its adaptation as a fertilizer for vines. The ash contained some unbnrnt matter which was not determined directly. In the table below, column 1 shows the composition of the material after drying at the boiling point of water; column 2 shows the composition as it would be if burnt completely and at a higher heat, so as to "burn'' the lime into quicklime: 1. 2. Insoluble residue 5.63 percent 8.87 per cent | Potash 2.90 percent 4.53 per cent Soda. 3.36 per cent 5.25 pier cent lime 41 40 percent 64.62 percent Magnesia 5.02 per cent 7.83 per cent ! Iron and alumina 4.67 percent 7.29 percent Br. ox. manganese 31 percent .48 per cent Sulphuric acid 26 per cent .40 per cent Phosphoric acid 47 per cent .73 per cent Carbonic acid 27.67 percent Organic matter and loss 8.26 per cent Total 100.00 100.00 It will be noted in column 1 that lime (in the form in which it e. ists in air-slaked lime, in combination with carbonic acid and water) constitutes the bulk of this ash, while the in- gredients of chief importance as mineral plant food, viz. : potash and phosphoric acid, are present in small amounts only as compared with the ash of oak wood, or of fresh bark. This change is partly the result of the leaching the bark has undergone in the tan-pits, partly that of the use of lime in dres-ing the hides. Assigning to the 58.0 pouuds potash and 9.4 pounds of phosphoric acid con- tained in a ton of the raw ash, the valuation usually made in the case of com- mercial fertilizers, it would be worth about §6.36 per ton on that score ; but where lime is needed it might be valued from eight to ten dol- lars for actual use. Potash is especially need- ful for the maintenance of production in older vineyards, but as a rule it is abundant in fresh soils in California ; while phosphoric acid is, on the whole, but in small supply. 2. Analysis of the Lime Refuse from the Alva- rado Sugar Works. — This is the by-product of the defecation of the beet juice with lime, and, of course, it consists in the main of lime in the air and water-slaked condition. The object of the analysis made at the sugges- tion of Mr. John L. Beard, of Centerville, was to ascertain the amounts of phosphoric acid and ammonia, or other nitrogen compounds that have been taken up from the beet juice and would be in a highly available condition as fertilizers. The substance is a grayish paste, of an offensive cdor, in which the presence of am- monia is, however, easily perceived. Hence it is obviously losing in manurial value continu- ally, as it lies exposed to the air. In drying it for analysis, this loss, of course, was also in- creased. The determination gave: Phosphoric acid in air-dried mass 1.57 per cent. Ammonia (determined as nitrogen) 67 per cent. From the condition of the mass when re- ceived, it may be inferred that quite one-half, if not more, of the nitrogen originally contained in the fresh mass had already evaporated in the sh ipe of ammonia gas. Considering that the two ingredients thus de- rived from the beet juioe are present in a highly effective condition, it is certainly worth the while of those living near the factory to haul this refuse upon their fields, or to use it in com- posting, especially with the tule muck, or marsh soil, which will thus be sweetened by the lime, and will serve to retain the ammonia. The latter object may also be attained by using some plaster in the compost. Aside from the lime, the value of the dry material, as shown in the analysis, is about eight dollars per ton, according to the usual schedule. Examinations of Soils. Granite Soilt from the Foothills of the Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County.— Sent by Mr. Win, A. Spalding, of Sierra Madre, who says that such laud forms a kind of sloping mesa, "the natural growth being greasewood, white sage, sumac, lupins, etc., with an occasional syca- more. The brush is naturally heavy, and often swept by fires. The soil is easily cultivated, and does not differ obviously from the subsoil; drinks up all the water that can be put upon it, but retains moisture well during the hot summer. Deciduous trees and grape vines flourish without any irrigation, provided they ■■XV fairly cultivated; citrus trees do finely, but it is not wt 11 suited to grasses, clovers, corn, grain, root crops or garden vegetables." It is especially desired to know the cause of the latter defect and its possible remedy. This soil is rather coarsely granular or sandy, the grains being obviously largely granite de- bris. This fact renders a full analysis unneces- sary, since such soils are known to contain abundance of potash and, in California, of lime. A special determination proved that it also contains an adequate supply of phosphoric acid. It is therefore obvious that its defect is a mechanical one, and this was verified by me- chanical analysis, the soil being passed suc- cessively through sieves of increasing fineness, upon which there remained the following per- centages of sand too coarse to pass : Per Cent. Sieve with meshes of 1-1 2th inch retained 30-4 Sieve with meshes of l-25th inch retained 20.8 Sieve with meshes of l-50th inch retained 17.0 Sieve with meshes of l-60th inch retained 12.3 Finer than l-60th inch, or "fine earth" 19.7 100.0 This fine earth was found to contain 4.7 per cent of true clay, which referred to the entire soil, shows the latter to contain only about nine tenths per cent of clay. This fact explains fully why the shallow- rooted grasses, vegetables, etc. , will not grow well on this soil. Th-3 surface soil, upon which they mainly depend for their nourishment, is too coarse to afford it, contains too little fine matter from which their roots can draw susten- ance, and is also too open to the dry summer atmosphere. The fine matters are constantly carried by the rain or in igation water to greater deoths. where the roots of trees, vines and tap- rooted plants can follow them, and find moist- ure at the same time. It is not easy to suggest a remedy for this state of things that would be applicable on the large scale. For small garden plots, flower- beds, etc., the hauling of a more clayty soil on the surface may be feasible. Another ex- pedient is the one employed by the Arabs, viz.: to plant in pits so as to bring the shallow roots within reach of a more compact soil and abund- ant moisture. But for practical purposes, the culture naturally adapted to these circum- stances will have to prevail. Soil form Valley. — Sent by Mr. K. \V. Thomas of Capay. This soil is evidently old alluvium of Cache Creek, substantial but light and somewhat gravelly, with a gravelly subsoil. Mr. Thomas desired to have some definite data as to its adaptation to fruit culture, and pros- pective durability. The only points needing determination in this case were the amouuts of lime and phosphoric acid present, which were found to be as follows. V\ Lima *sfi per cent Phosphoric acid ner cent As the rocks of the valley are knAfn'Ho con- tain abundance of potash, ami the above per- centages are quite satisfactory, there can be no doubt of the adaptation of the soils to the pur- pose intended, nor of fair durability. Berkeley, March G, 1S84. E. \\ * Hil<;ard.