199 



SOIL ANALYSIS. 



Reference Number — 94. 



Source Details — ^Trinity — Flat Banana Land. 



Depth of Sample — 9 inches. 



PHYSICAL ANALYSIS. 



Stones 

 Gravel 

 Sand 



Fine Sand 

 Silt 

 Agricultural f Fine Silt 

 Clay I Clay 



Moisture 



Total 



Retentive power for water ... 



CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. 



'Soil passed throwwh 3 m. ni. Sieve dried at 1 00° C.) 

 Insoluble Matter 

 Soluble in Hydrochloric acid 



f Potash ... 



I Lime 



-{ Phosphoric Aci'i 

 I Carbonic Acid as 1 

 l^Carbonate of Lime j 

 Combined water and wrganic matter 



Humus (soluble in Ammonia) 



Nitrogen 



Hygroscopic Moisture 



FERTILITY ANALYSIS. 



Available Potash 

 Available Phosphoric Acid 



VERE. 



The proprietor of a sugar estate in Vere is desirous of starting 

 banana cultivation now that irrigation has been established. Soil 

 samples representative of (a) the general cultivable area (b) stiff 

 lands and (c. and d.) two well defined areas of inferior productive 

 power, termed " gall A." and " gall B." respectively, have been 

 analysed. 



I am of opinion that owing to the heavy nature of the soil, 

 banana cultivation will be somewhat difficult and considerable 

 expenditure on drainage will be necessary. The available mine- 

 ral fertility is high, but the carbonate of lime is very low and the 

 soil is in rather poor condition as regards humus and nitrogen. 



It would appear desirable to establish drains at least 3 feet deep, 

 to apply a good dressing of marl and to use every means of in- 

 creasing the humus in the soil by green dressings and applications 

 of pen manure and green refuse. I do not think the soil requires 

 help from any form of commercial fertiliser. 



This is good land for sugar-cane but naturally unsuitable for 

 bananas and requiring special treatment to make it fit for the suc- 

 cessful growth of the latter crop. 



