My Dear Sir

I succeeded in burning the soil according to your instructions¹ & having done so, my father thought it would be more satisfactory to know the actual amounts of the various constituents. D^r Frankland most kindly undertook to have the soil analysed in his laboratory: & the following is the result obtained.² The “natural soil of which the analysis is also given, is from a heap close to my fathers house; we thought that as nothing seemed to grow on this soil it might serve our purpose another year & save all trouble of burning &c.

Will you be so very kind as to tell whether you would consider these soils agriculturally very poor in potassium phosphorus magnesia lime? D^r Frankland says “you must not conclude from these results that the potash soda phosphoric acid are at present in such a form as to be capable of assimilation by plants. All that can be said with certainty is that they may be assimilated”³

If my letter finds you especially busy, pray do not think of answering it until you have convenient leisure. I am very sorry to trouble you again—⁵

With many thanks for your kind help— | Believe me | Yours sincerely | Francis Darwin