THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 263 



The foregoing observations show a very even tem- 

 perature and a good average rainfall on the east, 

 west, and south sections of the island, and doubtless 

 explain to some extent the large average yields of latex 

 at comparatively high elevations. The heavy rainfall 

 at Menes is due to its close proximity to a high moun- 

 tain. 



Throughout the highlands of the greater part of Java 



the soil is red laterite, overlaid with a considerable 



depth of humus and topsoil on all virgin forest-lands. 



On low-lying flat country the general characteristics are 



a dark brown greasy topsoil on stiff blue or yellow clay, 



these lands requiring extensive draining previous to 



cultivation to free them from accumulations of excessive 



moisture. In the eastern provinces of Pasoerean and 



Besoeki, the soil in the highlands is a rich chocolate, 



friable loam, not infrequently mixed with black scauria 



from the great volcanoes in those districts ; the soil of 



the low-lying flat lands in these provinces is a rich 



brown clayey loam, mixed with sand, alternating at 



times with a black, sandy soil of volcanic origin. On 



the laterite soil the growth of the rubber-trees is more 



satisfactory, and they are less subject to disease than on 



the low-lying clays ; but the latter could be very much 



improved by adequate draining and occasional forking 



over, with an application of lime as a top-dressing. 



Near Rangkas-Bitoeng a curious white soil, very loose 



on the surface and quite hard a foot or two down, is not 



uncommon. The rubber planted in this vicinity is 



healthy in appearance, and yields freely ; this class of 



soil, however, will need heavy manuring in the near 



future to insure satisfactory returns. 



