AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



5TBAIT5 



AND 



FEDERATED MALA/ STATES. 



No l.J JANUARY, 1910. [Vol. IX 



A PEAT-SOIL NOTE. 



We recently received from Pontianak two samples 

 of a peaty soil in which rubber had been planted. The 

 planter reported that the trees at years averaged 

 5*59 inches in circumference at 3 feet from the ground, 

 which is decidedly small, but the trees were healthy 

 though under-sized, and a good many seedlings had 

 died. 



The soil sent consisted exclusively of decayed wood 

 and leaves ; not a particle of sand or stone was visible. 

 I asked Mr. Dent, the Government Analyst, to examine 

 the samples with a view of finding out what amount of 

 mineral matter there was in this class of soil, which 

 resembled exactly that obtained from Johore, and des- 

 cribed in previous accounts of the peat-soils. 



Of the two samples A was taken from the top of the 

 ground to about 8 inches depth, and B about three feet 

 down. The owner of the land states that the soil seems 

 to be similar to this for 15 to 20 feet depth, and that the 

 whole soil on exposure has sunk a good deal. 



In appearance, the two samples were much the same 

 except that the top soil was wetter, and the fragments 

 of wood less decomposed, as might be expected. 



