172 SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF WATER-SOLUBLE SALTS IN BAHAMA WHITE MARL. 

 Constituent. Per cent. 



Calcium sulphate (CaSO 4 ) 0.29 



Magnesium sulphate (MgSO 4 ) .24 



Magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ) .63 



Potassium chloride (KC1) 23 



Sodium chloride (NaCl) 3.94 



Sodium bicarbonate ( NaHCO 3 ) 07 



Sodium carbonate ( Na 2 COs) .01 



Per cent soluble salts 5.41 



By the above analysis we find that the marl contains over 4 per cent of 

 chlorides, which amount would preclude most plant growths. It had been 

 suggested that this marl would be of value for making soil on the higher lands, 

 where soil is deficient. The practicability of this is not known, and could only 

 be determined by an actual trial. The salts would probably leach out after a 

 few rains. Large quantities of this marl can be easily obtained. Because of 

 its solubility and action with reagents, the mechanical analysis of this type 

 could not be made. 



METHODS OF CULTIVATING AND CROPPING. 



The primitive methods of cultivation in vogue are the result of circum- 

 stances. The stony character of all soils, with the exception of one type (Coral 

 Sand), is such that improved agricultural implements can not be used. The 

 plow, the harrow and other implements of that class, which are used in the agri- 

 culture of most countries, are never seen here. Even a hand hoe is of no use on 

 much of the land, for an implement is required that can reach down into the 

 pockets in the rocks. For this purpose the machete or large knife does fairly 

 well. The same practices are employed by the planter of to-day as were utilized 

 by his ancestors. In fact, there has been little improvement in the culti- 

 vation of any of the crops, with the possible exception of pineapples. That the 

 methods could be improved in many ways there can be no doubt. There being 

 no large forest trees, the land is easily cleared. The brush is chopped down 

 with a machete, the coarser wood removed, and the remainder burned on the 

 ground. When burning, great care must be taken, for if the soil be dry, and 

 the fire gets too hot, much of the organic matter is burned away, and irrepar- 

 able injury is done. A large amount of land on all the islands has been 

 injured by careless burning. A wet period is usually selected in which to 

 do the burning, and even. then care must be exercised. If the burning has 

 been well done, the field is ready for any crop which it is desired to plant. 



The amount of land cleared is small, for as a rule two or three acres is 



