SELECTION OF LAND 25 



crop he proposes to plant. In faith of this the planter 

 buys and plants, alas ! with failure. Why ? The sample 

 was taken from a spot which contained or received the 

 wash of the surrounding land, and was in consequence as 

 rich in proportion, as the adjoining ground was poor and 

 valueless. Chemical analysis is a valuable adjunct to 

 practical planting experience, but, without that experience, 

 leads the planter into frequent dilemmas. A mechanical 

 analysis can easily be made by the planter himself after 

 a short course of suitable instruction. 



Johnston, a well-known agricultural writer, has the 

 following in his " Elements of Agricultural Chemistry " 

 (17th ed., p. 147) : " Chemical analysis of a soil as or- 

 dinarily conducted, valuable though it is in some respects, 

 is not of much service in indicating the actual fertilising 

 matters at the moment available in the soil. The agencies 

 at work whereby the elements of fertility are rendered 

 available for the plants' use, are so complicated and 

 numerous that the best test of a soiVs fertility is to carry out 

 experiments with the plant itself." There can be no 

 doubt of the truth of this extract, which is also supported 

 in the writings of the great French chemist Lille, who 

 advised that a planter should analyse a soil by the plants 

 he can grow upon it. The point is emphasised here to 

 guard the planter against advisers who in every country 

 are found ready to persuade the inexperienced to buy on 

 the results of chemical analysis of the soil alone. 



The soil chosen should be one, as Wright puts it (p. 140), 

 having good physical and chemical properties," and he 

 agrees with Jumelle in pointing out that " the best cacao 

 soils are those which have not been cultivated for many 

 years or not at all, and that abundance of humus, 1-2 per 

 cent, lime, 0-25 per cent, of phosphoric acid, as well as 

 abundant supplies of other ingredients, are necessary 

 before one can hope to obtain the best results." A shallow 

 soil resting upon hard bed-rock is totally unsuitable, 

 while a moderately shallow soil resting upon a friable rock 

 is often found to grow cacao to perfection. It is generally 



