BANANA SOILS IN JAMAICA 61 



inadequate conditions of drainage or of tillage may in the 

 near future yield success to planters with more enterprise 

 and knowledge than their predecessors who have tried and 

 failed. 



" For present purposes, a few soils typical of different 

 classes and types of land on which bananas are grown 

 with success have been selected and their composition and 

 analysis set forth [on pp. 58 and 59]. 



OBSERVATIONS 



" No. 1 represents a very rich deposit overlying the 

 limestone on an estate in Portland where magnificent 

 bananas were grown year after year. This might be taken 

 as an ideal banana soil rich in humus and available 

 plant food and of a rather retentive but not impervious 

 consistency. 



44 No. 2 is an average alluvial soil in Portland that has 

 been long under cultivation and is on the limit of pro- 

 ductivity as first-class banana land. This is a light soil 

 from which the humus is rapidly abstracted under cultiva- 

 tion with a high rainfall. The present standard of humus 

 is low and the nitrogen also below par. Chemical fertilizers 

 when tried on this soil were inoperative. The provision 

 of vegetable matter to restore the humus is clearly the 

 problem to be faced in this case. 



" No. 3 is a representative of a non-calcareous alluvial 

 soil in St. Mary where excellent bananas are and have 

 been grown for many years by good tillage and green 

 dressings. 



44 No. 4 is a type of the heavy banana soils of this parish. 

 Forking and deep drainage have worked wonders on this 

 material. 



" No. 5 is a representative of the alluvial deposits rich 

 in calcareous matter that are largely found in St. Mary. 

 This soil failed to respond to the most generous applications 

 of chemical manures, but at once yielded a full grade of 

 fruit when subjected to thorough implemental tillage and 

 top dressings of cowpeas. 



