SOIL AND VEGETATION. 95 



being of average fertility ; in others, it is a reddish or whitish 

 clay, without even traces of organic matters, whilst the entire 

 surface is, as it were, eroded, forming in close proximity holes of 

 five or eight feet in diameter, and of a depth varying from about 

 six to twelve inches; this remarkable disposition is well illustrated 

 between Guanape and Aripo. 



Undulating lands are, without an exception, the richest and 

 most fertile in the colony, as exemplified in Naparima, Oropuche, 

 Manzanilla, Mayaro, &c. ; the soil is, generally, a rich loam, 

 several feet deep, and of a dark brown or black colour. The 

 hilly parts are also very productive, being loamy surfaces resting 

 on schists, or on limestone, which sometimes protrudes in large 

 blocks. Where, however, mountains terminate on a plain, the 

 zone skirting the same is commonly stony, and of little fertility. 

 This characteristic is well defined all along the northern range ; 

 from Port of Spain eastward the summits are, generally, pro- 

 ductive. 



The vegetation of wild plants furnishes a good criterion 

 whereby to judge of the various degrees of fertility or barrenness 

 of soils. The single family of palms affords sufficiently accurate 

 indications of the quality of the land and of its adaptability, or 

 otherwise, to the growth of our various staples : as instances 

 the Carat is indicative of the best soil, and of its suitableness for 

 the production of sugar ; the Mountain-cabbage is a sure 

 characteristic of good land, adapted to the cultivation of cacao 

 and coffee ; the Attalea speciosa of a light rich loam, particularly 

 well suited to the production of " ground-provisions ;" the Groo- 

 groo, on the other hand, grows in dry silicious lands ; the Timite 

 generally in low sandy tracts ; the Cocorite and Palma Real in the 

 worst soils. Any land producing the Carat (Oopernicia) and 

 Mountain-cabbage (Orcodona), Palms, the wild Fig-tree (Ficus), 

 wild Plum-tree (Spondias) , the Cedar (Oedrela) , Balizier (Heli- 

 conia), Sand-box tree (Hura), &c., may be pronounced good. 

 Wherever these plants grow in abundance, the soil is very fertile ; 

 the Carat, wild Fig-tree, and Cedar, however, are particularly 

 characteristic of superior lands. The soil is of excellent quality 

 where the Fig-tree, Mountain-cabbage, Plum-tree, Cedar, and 

 Balisiers, are plentiful ; it may also be considered good whenever 

 any one of the above species is not wanting. On the contrary, 

 wherever the Cocorite, Manaco, Timite, and Groo-groo (Palms), 



