162 



SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



the interstices, being similar in appearance to that of the black or " provision " 

 land, and consisting of a brown to blackish loam. Laboratory analysis also 

 shows its texture and organic matter content to be about the same. 



The pine-barren land occupies low, level positions, becoming swampy in 

 the lower places in wet seasons. The underlying rock has weathered in the 

 manner characteristic of low areas generally. The pockets are not so deep 

 as in the areas of scrub land, and the intervening partitions are thinner, and 

 more or less broken down, causing the irregular-shaped fragments to fill the 

 pockets and give a large percentage of stony material. The surface of the 

 intervening ledges is very ragged. Disintegration, as well as solution, has 

 been an important factor in the formation of this soil. 



Besides the large area on Xew Providence, the pine-barren land occupies 

 large areas on Andros and Abaco Islands. But as these islands were not 

 mapped the exact extent of the type is not known. The characteristic vege- 

 tation is pine. The trees, which as a rule do not exceed 8 inches in diameter, 

 seldom rise to a height of more than 35 feet. 



On the wetter areas the scrub palmetto grows, and on some of the higher 

 and better drained portions, where the proportion of rock fragments is less 

 and the soil is more like Bahama Black Loam, there is a fair coppice growth. 

 Where fires are not allowed to burn over the barrens there is an undergrowth 

 of low, scrubby bushes, ferns and sedges. 



Agriculturally the pine-barren land is of little value. Some use is made 

 of the small pine timber, and quantities of charcoal are burned. Formerly 

 some turpentine was obtained from these trees. At one time it was thought, 

 the pine-barren land would be suitable for the growing of sisal, but the soil 

 proved but poorly adapted to this crop. 



The mechanical analysis of the fine earth of this soil type is given in the 

 subjoined table: 



MECHANICAL ANALYSES OF BAHAMA STONY LOAM. 



