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alumina and ferrous oxide. Besides, in humus loam ot 

 north Japan, nitrogen is present in rather large quantities. 



The presence of the low oxidized compounds of iron show 

 an imperfect aeration of such soils and their productivity is 

 low in consequence. 



Their physical properties are also inferior in most cases 

 from the agricultural standpoint, being mostly stiff and im- 

 permeable when wet and very difficult of aeration. The 

 water holding capacity is generally large. But they are apt 

 to dry up and become very open into deep strata when dry 

 weather prevails. 



These characteristics of the soils prove very disadvantage- 

 ous for fruit growing, unless their texture undergoes radical 

 improvements. 



The absorptive capacity, on the whole, is large, especial- 

 ly when humus is present. Experiments show that the 

 presence of humus always heightens the absorptive capacity 

 of the soil, whatever its nature may be. Soils of this category, 

 when mixed with volcanic ashes and pumice, improve more 

 or less in fertility and power of absorption, whilst becoming 

 much inferior in texture and in productivity. 



The only exception to this rule is found in Kiusiu, where 

 the poor soils have good texture and have proved productive 

 under good management. 



As shown later in the accompanying table, fruit growing 

 Is successfully carried on in this kind of soil only in Kiusiu. 

 The loquat and mandarin groves of Sakurajima, a small 

 volcanic island in the Gulf of Kagoshima, the mandarin 

 groves of Ikiriki, near Nagasaki ; and the same in Kotemmu- 

 ra near Kumamoto are the only brilliant examples of fruit 

 growing carried on in soils of above category. Outside of 

 Kiusiu, one can hardly find good examples of orchards on 

 soils of this description. 



Soils derived from basalt and trachite diiifer widely in their 

 chemical and physical properties from those of andesitic origin. 



