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SOME LOCAL REFUSE MANURES. 



By H. H. Cousins, M.A„ F.C.S. 



In an agricultural community it behoves everyone to seek a useful 

 application for any refuse materials capable of increasing the fertility 

 of the soil. Some examples of such products that have been recently 

 referred to the Government Laboratory for an opinion as to their value 

 are here given : — 



(1) Pond Mud. 



This represents the mud cleared out of a pond on a sugar estate in 

 Trelawny. On analysis it gave the following results : — 



Per Cent. 

 Moisture ... 5.81 



Combined water and organic matter 15 . 72 



Carbonate of Lime ... 1 . 18 



Phosphoric Acid ... 1.60 



Equal to Phosphate of Lime 3 . 49 



Potash ... 0.09 



Nitrogen ... 0.30 



This mud is rich in Phosphates, deficient in Potash and fairly rich, 

 in Nitrogen. It should be of benefit to the soil on the estate if spread 

 and worked in. The benefits arising from its use would be due as 

 much to its mechanical properties as to its chemical composition. 



(2) Banana trash ash. 



Large quantities of Banana trash are collected at certain centres on 

 the Pi-ailway where Bananas are unloaded. A sample of the ashes ob- 

 tained by burning the accumulated heaps of this trash gave the follow- 

 ing results on analysis : — 



Per cent. 

 Potash ... 6*86 



Phosphoric Acid ... 3"23 



equal to Phosphate of Lime ... 7 07 



The estimated value of this is about £2 per ton. There are some 

 floils in the island markedly deficient in Potash, to which this ash 

 should be of the greatest benefit. As an illustration of such a soil, an 

 analysis is here given of a property in Portland where Bananas have 

 failed entirely. 



The analysis indicates a soil of excellent quality in all respects ex- 

 cept that of Potash which is decidely below the normal. 



Soil Analysis. 



Reference Number — 64. 



-Source Details — Surface Soil from a property in Portland where Ba- 

 nanas have entirely failed. 

 Depth of Sample — 9 inches. 



