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the central or older part of the island, shows more disintegration 

 of the rock than does the terrace. With the coming of plant life, 

 humus has formed and soil has gradually accumulated, though soil, 

 in the ordinary sense, at no place exceeds much more than six inches 

 in depth. Beneath this top soil, which lies in pockets and crevices 

 of the rocks and is by no means a continuous layer, lies a layer 

 of decomposed coral limestone, white and powder^, known as 

 makatca. This decomposed limestone will not alone support plant 

 life. It is now used to a considerable extent as a top dressing for roads 

 where, when rolled, it forms a compact and fairly permanent hard 

 surface. A red soil is also found in pockets here and there but to 

 a more limited extent. This soil when mixed with the top loam may 

 furnish a basis for plant growth. 



The natives have cleared much of the island where the rock 

 has disintegrated sufficiently to permit working, but most of the 

 lower terrace, as well as large scattered areas on the upper level, 

 still remain too rough for the cultivation of crops. In clearing, the 

 felled trees and brush are burned which not only removes the 

 woody debris but also destroys some of the humus in the soil as 

 well as reducing the microfloral content. The government offi- 

 cials are attempting to teach the natives not to burn their clear- 

 ings and to conserve all of the humus possible and that this is the 

 one great need of the soil. Seeds of Crotalaria anagyroides are 

 also supplied for scattering about the island in the hope that this 

 legume, which grows well under Niue conditions, may aid in soil 

 building. 



Cultivation aside from simple hoeing is impossible. Taro, 

 bananas, yams, and sweet potatoes are planted in holes which are 

 made in the soil pockets with sharpened sticks. Weeds may be 

 pulled but for the most part the crops develop, if at all, without 

 benefit of mechanical aid. In spite of these handicaps, under nor- 

 mal moisture conditions, fair crops are produced. During periods 

 of drought, when the plantations fail, the natives are compelled 

 to subsist on coconuts, breadfruit, and the fruit, roots, and other 

 edible parts of wild plants of which there are not a great variety 

 providing usable parts. They may, of course, purchase a variety 

 of canned foods in the "bush" stores whenever they are able to se- 

 cure money through the shipment of produce to the New Zealand 

 markets. 



