89 



The surface soil consists of about 75 per cent, of fine sand and silt 

 with 8 to 10 per cent of agricultural clay. On the whole a more re- 

 tentive soil than those just described from the two neighbouring es ates. 

 The chemical analysis indicates a high standard of total and available 

 Phosphoric Acid, with a moderate reserve of Potash and a Heci^iedly 

 low present supply in an available form. The Carbonate of Lime is 

 ample. The Humus also is up to a good standari. 



An obvious deduction is that Potash salts should be of value while 

 Phospliates are quite superfluous. The addition of Nitrogen might be 

 profitable under irrigation, otherwise a limited rainfall wuuld probably 

 render them non-productive. As regards irrigation it is satisfactory 

 to note the fact that the subsoil is lighter and more permeable ihan 

 the surface soil. Stagnation of this land should never occur provided 

 due attention to the use of water and a thorough system of drainage 

 trenches be maintained. 



ST. CATHERINE. 



Large areas of land are available for cane cultivation in this district 

 but at present the banana dominates the irrigable areas of cultivation. 

 Specimens of these soils have been reported on by Mr. Francis Watts 

 in the Journal of the Agricultural Society for 1899, and by the writer 

 in a recent report on " Banana Soils." The lighter soils of St. Cathe- 

 rine possess an exceedingly high standard of available fertility, ren- 

 dering the use of fertilisers absolutely inoperative Two sugar estates 

 of importance are still active in this Parish and there have been schemes 

 mooted recently for the establishment of a central factory at Spanish 

 Town to be fed by the two lines of railway from the surrounding 

 areas. Agriculturally the project is above reproach. The soil is there, 

 the water is there, capital, organisation and business acumen are alone 

 needed to establish the enterprise. 



Experiments on fertilisers are being conducted in this district on 

 Caymanas Estate and will be reported on in due course. It has been 

 shown that the returns from this estate bear comparison with those 

 from any other in the island. A high class grocery sugar is produced 

 here on Demerara lines. The scheme of the experiments is as follows : 



Canes — " Caymanas," St. Catherine -J Cameron, Etq. 



Mixed Phos- Sulphate of Sulphate of 

 phate, per Ammonia Potash 

 Acre. per Acre. per Acre. 



11 Plots each I Acre. 



Plot 1 No Manure — — — 



" 2 Complete Manure 3 cwt. 1 cwt. ^ '• 



" 3 No Nitrogen 3 •' — | " 



'• 4 Double Nitrogen 3 " 2 cwt. ^ " 



*« 5 No Phosphate — 1 •' ^ " 



" 6 Double Phosphate 6 " 1 " | " 



" 7 Double Superphosphate 6 " super. 1 " | " 



" 8 Double Slag 6 " slag 1 " | •' 



" 9 No Potash 3 " 1 " — 



" 10 Double Potash 3 " 1 " 1 cwt, 



" 11 Double Complete 6 " 2 .' 1 " 

 Analyses of soils from Worthy Park Estate, the Hon. J. Y. Calder, 



are in prospect but are not yet complete. A magnificent stretch of 



