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Mallee - Part 2
Image 114
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FRIDAY, 25th MAY, 1917. (At Perth.) Present : Charles Edward Dempster, Esq., Chairman. Matthew Thomas Padbury, Esq. Ranald McDonald, Esq. FREDERICK STOWARD, D.Sc., Botanist and Plant Pathologist, Department of Agriculture, Perth, sworn and examined: 1120. By the CHAIRMAN : Do you consider that samples of soil for analysis of salt should be taken only from lands which might be expected to grow wheat, or should samples also be taken from salt flats in order to trace the movements of salt ?—I consider that the samples should also be taken from the salt flats in order to trace the movements of salt. 1121. Would you agree with Mr. Mann if he says that an officer who took samples from salt flats had not carried out his duty properly ?—If he took them only from the salt flats, I should agree with Mr. Mann. 1122. Would you expect to get a true insight into the occurrence of salt by taking samples only from lands supposed to be suitable for cultivation ?—No. 1123. Would you consent to report on the soils of a district unless you knew whence and with what object individual samples had been taken ?—No ; it is imperative that full data should accompany the samples of soil. 1124. I hand you a copy of a letter of instructions, dated 15th November last, addressed by Professor to the Acting Government Analyst, and reading— I am sending herewith 71 samples of soil for analysis by direction of the Royal Commission on Esperance lands. The samples have been taken from the lake bottoms, bush lands, and lands carrying crop in the Esperance district, and some of them from cropped lands in other parts of the State. It will be sufficient to determine the amount of water-soluble salts only, and the ordinary chemical analysis for agricultural purposes is not required. Please estimate therefore from the water extracts of the soils (1) total inorganics salts, (2) chlorine, (3) sulphuric acid, (4) carbonic acid as carbonates. For convenience the items (2), (3), and (4) may be stated in their equivalents of chloride, sulphate, and carbonate of sodium, and in this form given as percentages of the dry soil. The above determinations are required for all of the samples. In addition, please estimate in the water extract the percentage of lime (CaO) and magnesia (MgO) in the samples marked 1A, 2A, 9A, and 18A. The chemical reaction of each soil might be noted. Along with the soils I am also forwarding ten samples of waters. In these it will be sufficient to determine the percentage of chlorine. The Commissioners are desirous of presenting their report at the earliest possible date, and it is requested, therefore, that the above analyses be treated as a matter of urgency. P.S.—Please reserve such portion of the samples as you do not use in case additional determinations should be asked for later. Have you read this letter ?—Yes, I have perused it. 1125. Did Professor Paterson ask for determination of chlorine to be stated as sodium chloride ?—Professor Paterson asked for a chemical analysis of the water extracts of the samples of soil, and stated that chlorine was to be determined and the amount expressed as the equivalent of sodium chloride. 1126. Was this a proper request ?—What Professor Paterson asked for was a determination of chlorine in the water extract of the soils samples, and then he wished the result to be expressed as sodium chloride. It is a common and conventional mode of expressing the choline content of a soil or a soil extract, and it would be understood as such by any professional chemist. 1127. Do you consider Professor Paterson understood what he was asking when he asked for sulphuric acid to be stated as sulphate of soda ?—Undoubtedly. 1128. Is there any chemical objection to doing this ?—There is no chemical objection. If Professor Paterson had asked for sulphuric acid to be stated as sulphate of potash, the analytical method involved in determining the sulphuric acid would be the same. 1129. Would the method of stating the sulphuric acid as sulphate of soda affect the process of analysis ?—Not in the least. 1130. Can you explain why Mr. Mann should now disclaim his results for sulphuric acid in terms of sulphate of soda ?— It is inexplicable. 1131. Do you know if a statement of sulphuric acid as sulphate of soda has been employed elsewhere in soil salt investigations ?—Yes ; it will frequently be found in the literature on the subject. It appears also in Bulletin 145 of the Utah Agricultural College Experiment Station, page 4, headed "Methods of Analysis." 1132. Did Professor Paterson ask in his letter for carbonic acid as carbonates, or, as stated by Mr. Mann, did he ask carbonic acid in the soil ?—Professor Paterson asked for carbonic acid as carbonates, not as carbonic acid in the soil. 1133. Is there a chemical difference ?—Yes. The carbonic acid in the water extract would represent that derived from soluble carbonates such as soda or potash.
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