^SOILS 15 



Ceylon soils, as a rule, are poor and shallow, and their 

 character in general may be summed up thus : (1) Sea-coast, soils 

 loose and gravelly or sandy, often with a large proportion of 

 laterite ("cabook") ; these are usually of a deep reddish colour, 

 and in some localities a deposit of white silvery sand occurs on 

 the surface; in such soils, however, the Cinnamon, Coconut palm 

 and certain other crops flourish, provided the rainfall is sufficient. 

 (2} Inland, up to medium elevations in Southern and Central 

 Provinces, soils of a reddish clay, often with a proportion of laterite, 

 and containing but a small percentage of humus. (3) Up-Country, 

 soils more of a loamy character, usually with a larger amount of 

 humus; rich loamy soils occur only in certain limited areas. Black 

 peaty clays occur in valleys or swamps at the higher elevations. (4) 

 North Central Province, soil variable, in some places hard and 

 poor; in others it is deep and black, free from stones and easily 

 worked, as at the Maha-illuppalama Cotton Experiment Station, 

 (5) Jaffna Peninsula, soil described generally as of a hard clayey 

 nature. 



Method of Taking Samples of soil for Analysis. After clear- 

 ing the surface of the ground of leaves and twigs at any 

 selected spot, dig a small square hole 18 in. to 2 ft. deep, remov- 

 ing all the soil. Then cut a thin section from top to bottom of 

 one side of the hole, and collect this in a clean basket or sack 

 Repeat this operation in five or six other spots where the soil is 

 uniform in appearance, and thoroughly mix the samples so obtained. 

 From the mixture take sufficient soil to fill a box 6 in. by 4 in. 

 by 4 in., and label the box with the name of the estate or 

 garden. Where the soil varies considerably, separate samples 

 should be taken in the above manner. Particulars as to elevation, 

 rainfall, crop growing or to be grown, and previous manuring 

 (if anv) should be sent with each sample. 



