74 Geology of St. Croiz. 7” 
, 
tween this and the sea, there are at present two lagoons, and 
also extensive beds of unstratified gravel, which have obviously 
been washed down from the mountains, and contain large quan- 
tities of shells belonging to the genera Helix, Caracolla, Bulimus, 
and Pupa, which are now extinct upon this island, but are found 
upon others in the neighborhood. I might adduce other evidence 
bearing on the same point, but the limits of this article will not 
allow 
The beds of the ocean are lined with coral on every side of 
the island, and, in many places, the reefs rise near the surface of 
the water. This is particularly true on the south coast, and at 
the harbor of Christianstad ; which is, indeed, with the excep- 
tion of a narrow break that affords a passage for vessels, com- 
- pletely enclosed by a coralline bank. 
- St. Croix contains but few minerals. Calcareous spar mae arra- 
gonite are the only two varieties which I saw. 'The latter occurs 
in the form of small, parallel, combined columns, and of six: . 
prisms with re-entering angles on the sides. ‘Both kinds are well — 
developed. ed 
Though the soil of the island was originally very Bae PT 
it has been much impoverished by a long course of unvaried cul- 
tivation. The elements however of an admirable soil still remain ; 
and al} that is necessary is to bring them info a suitable combi- 
nation. Many parts of the island might be exceedingly i improved 
by an artificial admixture of the marl and elay; and all need a 
fresh supply of the nutritive principle of a vegetable compost. 
The island of Barbadoes, which much resembles St. Croix, both 
in the geological formations and in the worn state of the at has 
been wonderfully revived by improved agricultural processes, and 
especially by compost manures and a more frequent alternation of 
crops. I donot doubt that the productive powers of St. Croix 
might be doubled in a few years by similar methods ; an object 
certainly deserving the attention of the landed proprietors. 
ita a IN ager area hires Spenernentlnlagadpimstisp ssh iuseoe te 
