246 APPENDIX. 



The other is a stiff clay on a substratum of marl ; it 

 is much less fertile than the former, and abounds with an 

 inirradicable kind of crass, in such a manner, tliat m"in\' 

 estates consisting of that kind of soil, which were once 

 very profital)le, are now so impoverished and over-grown 

 with this sort of grass,* as either to be converted into pas- 

 ture land, or to become entirely abandoned. Exclusive 

 of such deserted land, and a small part of country that 

 is altogether unimprovable, every part of the Island may 

 be said to be under cultivation.'' 



ISLAND OF JAMAICA. 



VOL. II. BOOK V. — PAGE 2O4. 



** It may be supposed, that a plant thus rank and succu- 

 knt requires -a strong and deep' soil to bring it to perfection, 

 and as far as my own observation has extended, I am of 

 opinion tliat no land can be too rich for that purpose. 



" Tlie very best soil, however, that I have seen or heard 

 of, for the produ6lion of sugar, of the finest quality and 



in 



* Pcrliaps tlic tendency which this soil has to produce this kind of grass, might 

 be corredcd by lime, alkaline or neutral salts. 



