41 



These soils average 



Chemical composition. 



Physical composition. 



This seems to be the transition point between the "poor" and the 

 "good" soils of Negi'os. It is probably the best section of the island 

 where plant cane only is chiefly cultivated, and, analytically considered, 

 would be classed as fairly good sugar land in almost any part of the 

 world. The average composition of these soils is raised somewhat 

 by the inclusion in the tal)le of the four samples from La Granja, 

 which are exceptionally fertile, especially as regards phosphoric acid 

 and nitrogen, and these, possibly, should have been excluded, as, accord- 

 ing to the native foreman of the place, who has been there since Spanish 

 times, they have, in former years, received much fertilizer. However, 

 the quantity of fertilizer which is ordinarily used on a field in this 

 country should hardly affect its chemical composition to any serious 

 degree. 



The local valuation of soils in this district, quoted under "Remarks," is given 

 for what it is worth. It may be of some value taken in connection vpith the 

 analyses of canes from the same soils. The standard of what constitutes a "good" 

 soil varies much. In the poorer localities, where all cane produced is, as a rule, 

 rich in sucrose, the best soil is that which yields the largest tonnage of cane; 

 whereas planters from newer, more fertile lands, owing to their absolute dependence 

 on the richness and purity of the cane juice for the quality of their sugar, often 

 consider the best soil to be that which yields cane highest in sucrose, even though 

 the total amount of sugar obtained per hectare be rather small. On no other 

 basis, for instance, could it be understood why an especially rich soil, such as 

 number 2. should be considered "poor". 



Numbers 5 to 9, taken from the central portion of the district, represent more 

 fairly the class of land from which the greater majority of all the sugar is 

 produced. Number 6 is a selected sample, taken from what is considered to be 

 the best part of the same field of which number 5 shows the average composition. 

 This portion, chemically, is slightly inferior in every respect, with the exception 

 of the percentage of lime in its subsoil. This may possibly render it more easily 

 cultivable and in a measure account for its apparent superiority. Number 7, a 



