156 



SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



In the past this soil has not been considered of importance, but it is now 

 being used quite generally for vegetables, and in time will probably be con- 

 sidered one of the most valuable soil types. Its position on the coast, where 

 the products can be easily taken on boats, is an advantage, although on the 

 other hand the crops are more likely to be damaged during hurricanes. It 

 has a further advantage in that it is not stony, and can be easily worked. If 

 desired, improved implements can be used. 



The mechanical analyses of two typical samples of this soil follow in the 

 subjoined table: 



MECHANICAL ANALYSES OF CORAL SAND. 



It will be seen from the above table that about four-fifths of the soil is 

 composed of coarse sands, with less amounts of medium and fine sands, and 

 about 4 per cent of clay. It will be noticed, too, that the organic matter is 

 high as compared with that of other soils. It may be said that this organic 

 matter is not apparent in the field, and no doubt comes from the animal 

 remains in the minute shells which are so numerous in the soil. The chemical 

 analysis of a composite sample of this soil type shows the following results : 



PRINCIPAL PLANT FOOD CONSTITUENTS IN CORAL SAND. 

 By acid digestion (HC1 sp. gr. 1.115V 



Constituent. Per cent. 



Phosphoric acid (P 2 O 5 ) 076 



Lime ( CaO) 50.810 



Potash (K 2 O) 306 



Nitrogen (N) 127 



Besides the large amount of lime, the most striking feature presented by 

 the above figures is the small amount of nitrogen (.127 per cent) in compari- 

 son with the large content of organic matter (10.5 to 12 per cent). The per- 

 centages of potash and phosphoric acid compare favorably with those usually 

 found in productive continental soils. 



