2 



Mr. Dent gave the following report : — 



A ;6.6o% 

 B 56.90% 



Moisture 



Ash 



.33% 

 .94% 



Ash Calculated from 

 Dry Sample 



1.43% 



2.18% 



This ash apparently consisted of the potash, a trace 

 of iron, etc., derived from the decaj^ed wood. There 

 was, in fact, absolutely no mineral matter derived from 

 the soil at all in the earth. To compare this with the 

 soil richest in humus, decayed leaves and sticks in the 

 Botanic Gardens, Singapore, where Para rubber is 

 grown successfully, it may be pointed out that this soil 

 contains upwards of 60 per cent, of mineral matter, while 

 other soils on which Para rubber grows well had up to 

 70 per cent, and more of mineral matter. 



The increase of ash in the lower sample is doubtless 

 due to the greater loss of organic matter in the course 

 of decomposition, giving a higher proportionate return. 



The amount of water retained in these soils is rather 

 striking. Warington, in his Physical Properties of Soil, 

 p. 82, gives as examples of the water retention of soils 

 the following : — 



Market garden soil, suitable for growing yellow^ 

 tobacco used for cigarettes, only 5 to 1 1 per cent, water, 

 shipping tobacco soil, 12-18 per cent, pasture soil 

 18-23 perfcent" In the soils analyzed from the Botanic 

 Gardens (Bulletin VII 581.) free water amounted to 

 7.400 per cent., in the wettest to 2.000 per cent, in the 

 driest. These soils were sent for analysis to Ceylon and 

 one may allow perhaps a little loss from evaporation on 

 the way. The Borneo soils, however, were kept some 

 days after their arrival here from Borneo, and perhaps 

 were proportionally wetter, still the difference in the 

 amount of water retained in the lowest, v/hich is the 

 driest, amounted to 56.90. Warington writes : *' Of all 

 soils peat has the greatest capacity for retaining water, 

 its porosity supplying an enormous internal surface, the 

 effect of which is heightened by the affinity for water of 

 its colloid constituents." Of course rhe peat he is refer- 



