164 SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



Its origin is not certain, but it is probably the oldest soil of the Islands, 

 being the product of a further decomposition of the black soil. Gradations 

 can be found which support this view. The position of areas of this type, as 

 a rule, is such that it is not subjected to surface washing; hence, the soil ma- 

 terials have a chance to accumulate and to weather more thoroughly, and the 

 soil formed is similar to the limestone soils of the Valley of Virginia in the 

 United States. 



The soil occurs mostly where the rock surface is honeycombed. In such 

 places the weathering has been similar to that in the low-lying areas, but it 

 has gone further, and the pockets are deeper and filled with soil. Often small 

 areas, free from rock fragments and outcrops, occur, but in general this type 

 is very stony and difficult to cultivate. 



Another hypothesis, however, has been advanced, according to which this 

 soil type is a sediment of red clay deposited on the ocean floor, which has been 

 brought above the surface upon the elevation of the Islands. 



In consequence of its peculiar fitness for the production of pineapples, 

 the value of this soil is high. It is at present used entirely for the cultivation 

 of this crop, but would produce equally well all other products that need a 

 heavy soil. The acreage under pineapples is quite large. The industry is 

 centered on those islands having the largest extent of this soil, viz. : Eleu- 

 thera and Cat Islands. The former is the more important. 



Some idea of the importance of the pineapple industry on this soil can 

 be gained by an examination of the statistics of exports. The figures have 

 ranged from 400,000 to 000,000 dozens in recent years, while in 1900 the 

 exports to the United States were 7,233,012 dozens, valued at 59,191. 



The pineapple lands have not their former productiveness, and the yields 

 are gradually decreasing. Large quantities of high-grade fertilizers are used, 

 forcing the productive power of the soil, but after a few seasons it fails to 

 respond to this stimulus, and is then thrown out of cultivation, and soon 

 reverts to the native coppice growth. After 15 or 20 years, however, it can 

 be cleared again, and the same process repeated, the soil recuperating while in 

 bush. 



In view of these facts, it would seem desirable to investigate the possi- 

 bility of finding a crop rotation for this soil. The analysis which will pres- 

 ently be given indicates no lack of mineral plant food in this soil in readily 

 available form, and it is an interesting and important economic question 

 whether the artificial stimulation of the pineapple by commercial fertilizers 



