Vol. XIV. No. 356. 



THE AOP.ICULTURAL NEWS 



113 



THE SOILS OF ANTIGUA. 



Dr. II. A. Tempany contributi to the current issue ol 

 the West Indian Bulletin a paper on the soil jua, 



which ia ol partii nt ol e wide 



diversity of soil types encountered within so small an an 

 The value of a general soil survey, such as this work oi 

 Dr. Tempany and otl i ute, lies in the fact thu it 



indie ;eneral lines the areas over which certain soil 



types prevail, thereby affording a rational insight into the 

 problems in soil management confronting local agriculturists, 



issisting them better to understand the position in that 

 respecl 1" a Idition LI affords a means of forming a judgment 

 as to the suitabilitj of the soils of different districts to 



different crops. 



Physically the isl md of An i i d be divided into 

 three principal regions (a) tl central plain, (b) the north- 

 eastern area, comprising the lime stone formation, (c) the 

 south-western area, which is the most mountainous and the 

 volcanic part of the island. 



The soils of the central plain vary jjery considerably in 

 Cflara ir the limestone outcrop they may lie markedly 



calcareous, but in the more central regions they are stiff and 

 heavy, and require considerable artificial drainage; they are 

 hard' during dry weather, and are apt to become water 

 logged during wel easons. They require liberal manuring 

 and thorough tillage to maintain their tilth, while 

 applications of lime are frequently of benefit. Departures 

 from the prevalent type are ol frequent occurrence owing to 

 the geological outcrops which an \ omplgx, consisting of 



limestone, beds of a flinty character and volcanic intrusion 

 In regard to the soils of the southern district (c), it is shown 

 that all of thejoa approximate fairly olosely to one physical 

 type, in which the larger and the smaller particles are 

 nearly balanced. Characteristically they are, as a whole, of 

 a decidedly desirable type, being easy to work, moderately 

 retentive ol water, and yet draining freely. The soils of the 

 southern district are all non-calcareous; in general the 

 majority of the cultivable lands in this area constitute 

 a succession of valley bottoms of considerable extent, 

 flanked by hills of moderate height, and in most 

 cases sloping down very gently to the sea. Oi late 

 years there has been a decided tendency to exploit 

 this area for the cultivation of cotton, limes and coconuts., 

 with, on the whole, marked!) successful results. The 

 conditions are general!) well adapted to coco-nut cultivation 

 especially, and there is undoubtly room for considerable 



.development in these and Other directions. 



In connexion with the survey of the soils of the limestone 

 area(b>. : vn that in physical constitution they approxi- 



mate vei\ closi ' to a single soil type throughput, in which 

 the particles oi a fine silt and day order of magnitude hold 

 the preponderance b) a large amount, and, on the average-, 

 astitute 659 percent, of the soil. In relation tocalcareous 

 soils it is pointed out that their character will in actual 

 practice be subject to profound modification in relation to the 



content of calcium carbonate. Soils which i ihar 



analysis show similar characteristics will differ markedlj 

 their behaviour if a large proportion od calcium carbonate is 

 present. This effect is due t.. the well known phenomenon of 

 flocculation. It is pointed out that in regard to the chemical 

 characteristics ol the ...ils of this area, apart from the content 

 of calcium carbonate, no general classification i- possible. 

 These soils 9how a wide range in respect of organic matter 

 and nitrogen content, and in this connexion it is laid down as 

 a tentative generalization, that a content of !•? to 2-0 per 



cent, of organic carbon and O'l percent, nil 



i rough indication ol i itisfactory degree ol fertility. 



In conclusion il ma) ie bated thai I >r T mpanj iper, 

 which has been but briefly dealt with here, ] 

 on. .mi' of -t.iti itical no i mation in the form i which 



will nodonbi be consulted with interest by all tho i cerned 

 with soils, especially by those living on the e tati in the 

 districts referred to. On account of its general it 

 reproduce belou a table showing the i 

 i ion of the principal -oil I . pes encountered ii Vhl 



TABLE SHOWING im MEAN PHYSICAL COMPOSITION OJ PHI 

 PRINCIPAL SOIL TYPES ENCOUNTERED IN Wll'.i \.~ 



■■■ ' 1 .1 ili.--i • .ii. ■ \rea includes Types Nos. L-19; Central Plain 

 includes Types Nos. 20-44; Southern District includes Types 

 Nos. !•". 52. 



