Soils, analysis of, etc — About 200 samples of soils taken from the surface from 6in. to 18in. and from 18in. to 36in. deep were examined for salt by the Government Analyst (Mr Mann). The tables of the analysis cover five sheets of figures, which, if attached to this report, would serve only to confuse readers, and probably leave a wrong impression. I will, therefore, endeavor to summarise the results of the analysis and make clear the position. A complete analysis of samples 1 to 30 was made and the results briefly put are: Not rich in humus, well supplied with lime, well supplied with potash, weak in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, as are most of the Western Australian soils. proper farming and manures will make good the above. In these samples salt was found, so it was decided to test all other samples (170) for salt only. Here are a few remarks about salts in soils will help readers to understand what is to follow concerning the particular soils in question. I make no apology for the length of these explanations, because the subject is very important and great issues are at stake. Tolerance of Alkali Salts by Plants — By alkali salts in agriculture three substances are most commonly understood. These are common salt (sodium chloride), Glauber salt (sodium sulphate), and carbonate of soda (sodium carbonate). The latter is commonly known as in America as salsoda and, when in the soil, black alkali. In addition, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, calcium chloride, and others are included as soil alkali. In addition, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, calcium chloride, and others are included as soil alkali salts, but the subject is sufficiently complicated if we confine ourselves to the three first mentioned. Everyone knows that an excess of the above salts in a soil is injurious to plants, and if the percentage exceeds certain limits the plants are destroyed. One is often asked how much salt may a soil contain and yet grow good crops. This question is by no means as simple as it looks, because it usually happens that the three salts under consideration are found in association possibly with others. The proportions of each will vary so much that it is probably impossible to decide to what extent each one is responsible for injury. The farmer knows that soils are derived from the decomposition of rocks, and anything which the soils contain, apart from the organic matter, must be found in the rocks from which they are derived, although usually in very different chemical forms. The granite and diorite rocks from which the soils in the agricultural areas are chiefly derived, contain among other things certain compounds of sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. From these original, insoluble chemical compounds soluble ones formed during the process of decomposition of the rocks. Some of these are good for plants, while others are injurious if in excess of certain limits. Some are much more soluble in water than others. If there is a heavy rainfall, the rain washes out the soluble salts as they are formed, so that we do not have the same accumulation in wet districts as we do in country with a limited rainfall. If we take any area of land in the eastern Districts, say near Beverley, or York, or Northam, we find the country in its natural state covered with forest or scrub growth, which largely absorbs the limited amount of rain which falls, and salty patches are rare and confined to special hollows receiving drainage, or surface water. This is because the soluble salts are more or less evenly distributed throughout the soils, on the hillsides through the whole extent of the country. When the land is ring-barked, cleared and broken up, natural vegetation no longer utilises the larger proportions of the rainfall, which entering the ground dissolves more or less of the salts, and as it soaks through the soil and gradually flows down the hillsides to the lower land, and the water carries the salts with it. In the summer time heavy evaporation takes place from the lower lands, the salt being left behind. After a few years this naturally results in large increase of salts in the hollows, and they are known as salt pans, samphire flats, or salt lakes.