Locality and Site 27 



stagnant. It will amply repay the inquirer and 

 intending planter to satisfy himself thoroughly 

 regarding these desiderata before purchasing 

 land, by going to the trouble and expense of 

 sinking test-holes at frequent intervals all over 

 the area under contemplation of purchase, 

 where surface indications are not palpably 

 evident as to the nature of the estate. 



A very tangible proof of the fertility or 

 otherwise of a region is in all cases the state 

 of the surface growth. Where you find large 

 and flourishing trees and herbage, there you 

 may be sure that ideal conditions exist for 

 your purpose ; this surface growth, however, 

 may have been destroyed by some agency not 

 readily discoverable, and then of course it is 

 necessary to employ the soil tests. If one 

 contemplates having this analysed it is always 

 to be recommended to make the samples of 

 not less size than 5 Ib. or even more, and 

 many recommend a cubic foot taken from vary- 

 ing depths and spots as being best. If lime 

 is found in your investigations it is a valuable 

 asset, especially for fruit production. With many 

 centres, especially islands where the primary 

 coral formation has been lifted considerably 

 above sea-level and later on covered with 

 fertile earth to a remarkable thickness (as on 

 the East Coast of Africa and adjacent islands), 

 lands very suitable for coco-nut cultivation are 

 often to be picked up cheap. Such situations 

 are sometimes, however, extremely isolated, so 



