Moisture ·93 Organic matter 10·67 Oxides of iron and alumina 13·40 Carbonate of lime with a little sulphate of lime 23·90 Carbonate of magnesia 1·10 Phosphoric acid trace Potash ·38 Soda ·13 Insoluble silicious matter 49·66 ------ 100·17” The ashes, however, are obtained by burning a thin slice pared from the surface of the land, so that they are derived from surface-soil and vegetable matter, the latter often yielding a sufficient amount of phosphoric acid with which to procure a crop, and, what is all important for us to consider is, that this phosphorus, the alkalies, and lime, are rendered by the burning in a state just fitted for the growth of the plants that are to be grown upon them; whereas, before the process, these ingredients were in a measure locked up, so that plants could not grow for the want of sustenance; not that it was not in the soil, but that it was insoluble. If, then, clover or any other plant had not succeeded, it would have been called “clover-sick.” The following analysis of vegetable ashes from a field in the neighbourhood of Cirencester will well repay attentive consideration, as illustrating these points:— ANALYSIS OF ASHES FROM PARING AND BURNING, BY PROFESSOR VOELCKER. Moisture and organic matter 9·12 Oxides of iron and alumina 14·56 Carbonate of lime 17·17 Sulphate of lime 1·73 Magnesia ·40 Chloride of sodium ·08 Chloride of potassium ·32 Potash 1·44 Phosphoric acid 1·84 Equal to bone earth (3·98) Soluble silica (soluble in potash) 8·70 Insoluble silicious matter 44·64 ------ 100·00