XII, C, 4 Brown, Merrill and Yates: Volcano Island 911 
This eruption * devastated an extensive area of fertile, cultivated 
land. The depths of the covering of ejecta varied greatly in 
different places; ** in some of the valleys it was from 50 to 80 
feet thick; on fairly level land from 1 to 5 feet; and on steep 
slopes only a few inches deep. Experiments conducted in 1903 * 
with the ash showed that this was incapable of supporting plants 
but that if soil was mixed with the ash, fair crops of estate 
produce could be successfully grown. 
The course of revegetation varied in different localities. In 
1907 Anderson ** found that the surface of ash near the Richmond 
works was not consolidated but was rapidly breaking up under 
the influence of plant roots, and humus was being formed. At 
the foot of the seaward slope of Richmond ridge there was a fan 
or plateau which was originally covered several feet thick with 
an incandescent avalanche. The surface of this consolidated 
into a crust nearly an inch thick. In 1907 Anderson found that 
no plants sprang up where this crust was perfect, but that where 
it was broken, as along the small water courses, a few plants 
were found. 
The progress of revegetation in the above areas was described 
by Sands * in 1912 as follows: 
Starting from the ruined Richmond plantation works, it is seen that the 
ejecta, mixed to some extent with old soil brought down by rains from the 
higher lands above, are from 2 to 6 feet thick, and are being rapidly 
converted into soil under the influence of favorable climate conditions, the 
action of the roots of various plants and decaying organic matter * * *. 
With the exception of the Roseau grass [Gynerium saccharoides HBK.], 
the roots of which had not been killed, all the plants have gradually 
established themselves from seed brought by various agencies from lands 
near by * * *, cer 
From Richmond works, proceeding along the coast in the direction of the 
volcano, a plateau of ash is soon reached which was put down in the form 
of an incandescent avalanche. This avalanche destroyed Richmond village, 
and covered the northwest portion of the plantation lands to a depth of 
* Anderson, T. and Flett, J. S., Report on the Eruption of the Soufriére 
in St. Vincent in 1902, and on a Visit to Montagne Pelée, in Martinique.— 
Part I, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London Sec, A. 200 (1903) 353-553. 
* Sands, W. N., An account of the return of vegetation and the revival 
of agriculture, in the area devastated by the Soufriére of St. Vincent in 
1902-8, West Indian Bull. 12 (1912) 22-31. ; 
* Sands, W. N., loc. cit. a . 
* Anderson, T., Report on the Eruption of the Soufriére, in St. Vincent, 
in 1902, and on a Visit to Montagne Pelée, in Martinique—Part II, Phil. 
Trans. Roy. Soc. London Sec. A. 200 (1908) 275-303. 
* Sands, W. N., West Indian Bull. 12 (1912) 22-31. 
