64 TRINIDAD. 



mulata of Cuba. The great fertility of these soils is undoubtedly 

 attributable to the presence of a large proportion of carbonate of 

 lime with an admixture of carbonate of magnesia. I have not 

 the slightest doubt that the addition, especially of the white 

 marl, to the red soil would materially improve its properties ; 

 and since on many estates it is within proximity, it would not 

 cost much to try some essays, especially as there cannot be any 

 apprehension of a bad result. The area occupied by the marl 

 series may be calculated at 75 square miles. 



Not inferior to the marl series is the calcareous or Tamana 

 series. This region is imperfectly known, being cultivated only 

 on a small scale, viz., at Manzanilla on the eastward, and at 

 Montserrat on the west. The soil is of excellent quality, of a 

 brownish colour, and friable. All sorts of provisions, particularly 

 roots, grow to perfection; cacao culture is extending in the 

 Montserrat district, and the plant is highly prolific and the 

 produce of as good a quality as anywhere else in the colony. 

 Where not too hilly, as between Montserrat and Tamana, the 

 soil would be well adapted to the cultivation of the sugar-cane. 

 The area may be taken at 86 square miles. 



The Caroni series occupies a large surface from east to west, 

 and displays a variety of soils : good, adjacent to the Tamana 

 series ; sandy as we approach the Caroni and Oropuche ; argilla- 

 ceous when we approach nearer ; then the vegas, formed of 

 sedimentary matter. On the eastern coast, and near the Oro- 

 puche, we meet better soil, owing to a fair admixture of calca- 

 reous drift from the Lebranche and Oropuche elevations. The 

 extent of this series may be calculated at 318 square miles. 



In the Moruga, or arenaceous series, the soil may be said to 

 be sandy and yet not unproductive, especially where it is 

 modified by the occurrence of interstratified shales, as at 

 Moruga, Guayaguayare, Erin; or of calcareous sandstone, as at 

 Quemada and part of Cedros. This section occupies more than 

 one fourth of the total area of the island — 492 square miles. 

 Cacao and the sugar-cane have been cultivated with some 

 success at Mayaro, Moruga, and Cedros ; provisions thrive at 

 Guayaguayare as well as anywhere else in the colony; but this 

 section seems to be well adapted to the culture of cotton anc 

 tobacco ; also to that of coffee. 



The soils of our swamps may be ranged as sedimentai 



