492 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



prosperous, but that was due partly to social and commercial condi- 

 tions. At the present time the soil, in spite of the modern use of 

 fertilizers, is probable much less fertile, in most places, than the 

 original virgin soil. Nevertheless, the soil in some districts is still 

 wonderfully productive. There is no evidence of any change in the 

 climate, but quite the contrary. Still it is doubtful if pineapples 

 could be raised there in such abundance, and of so good a quality as 

 they were in 1020 to 1050. 



The lack of the shelter from the bleak salt winds, furnished at 

 first by the cedars, would account for some of the change, but the 

 exhaustion of the vegetable mould, potash, and phosphates in the 

 soil was probably the main cause. 



Even now, many planters takefar more of such essential materials 

 from the soil than they give back to it, for they expect to raise two 

 or three crops each year on the same ground, with perhaps only one 

 very scanty supply of fertilizers. 



The very primitive and imperfect methods of cultivation practiced 

 for over 200 years render it still more remarkable that they could 

 have raised as much as they did. Up to about 1839, the common 

 plough was almost unknown in Bermuda. All the cultivation was 

 done with the hoe, and mostly by slaves. It was, of course, a very 

 shallow cultivation, carried on with no scientific knowledge. 



Under these circumstances a study of the composition of the 

 natural soils of Bermuda, and especially of the red clay, becomes of 

 much interest. The red clay contains a notable quantity of phos- 

 phates. 



At the present time a liberal amount of fertilizers is used by many 

 of the more enterprising planters, with marked success. In 1901, 

 2636 acres were under cultivation, according to the census returns. 



17. — Analyses of Bermuda Soils. 



Governor Lefroy has given the results of several analyses, which 

 are as follows : — 



