168 



SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



chemical and physical characteristics of the material and its moisture-holding 

 capacity. Chemically, the marl was found to contain relatively high amounts 

 of potash and lime. Both of these plant-food constituents are important factors 

 in the production of pineapples. It is not known how this land will endure 

 continuous cropping, as it has not been under cultivation long enough to 

 determine this question, but at present it is in considerable demand for the 

 cultivation of this fruit, and ranks as high as the other pineapple lands. Large 

 quantities of fertilizers are used on this soil, as on the Bahama Eed Loam. 



Its extent, as determined by the survey, is not very great. The largest 

 areas were found in Eleuthera, in the vicinity of Eock Sound, where it is 

 used entirely for the production of pineapples. Other areas were found on 

 Cat and New Providence Islands. More of this soil occurs around swamps, 

 in strips too narrow to be shown on a map of the scale used. The coppice on 

 this soil is similar to that on the Bahama Black Loam, but does not grow to the 

 height attained on the latter. 



The mechanical analyses of two typical samples of this soil are given in 

 the subjoined table: 



MECHANICAL ANALYSES OF BAHAMA MARL. 



The chemical analysis of a typical sample of the Bahama marl is as 

 follows : 



PRINCIPAL FOOD CONSTITUENTS IN BAHAMA MARL. 

 By acid digestion (HCl sp. gr. 1.115). 

 Constituents. Per cent. 



Phosphoric acid fPoOr.) 010 



Lime ( CaO ) 2.250 



Potash (KoO) 581 



Nitrogen ( N ) .015 



These figures indicate a rather low reserve of phosphoric acid and nitro- 

 gen, but a large amount of potash. 



