132 



decorative fruit for the table. The price is maintained by only export- 

 ing a small quantity. 



The Chinese or dwarf banana is grown in hilly districts, as it 

 is not so liable to be blown over. This species is very productive r 

 but is rot suited for export to England as it does not keep well. 



ANALYSIS OF BANANA SOILS. 

 The following analysis of soil from Portland by Mr. H. H. Cousins, 

 the Government C hemist, bas been published in the Jamaica Bulletin 

 (October, 1901, p. 150). It is reproduced here as an ideal soil for the 

 banana : — 



PHYSICAL ANALYSIS. 



Agricultural 

 Clay 



Stones 

 Gravel 

 Sand 



Fine sand 

 Silt 



{Fine silt 

 Clay 



Combined water 

 Organic matter 



Total 



Per cent. 



- 1 

 0*41 



5-46 

 28*89 

 23-65 }■ Fine Earth 

 la -77 



2-72 



25-10 



100-00 



Retentive power for water 



CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. 



(Soil passed through 3 m.m. sieve, dried 

 Insoluble matter 

 Soluble in hydrochloric acid 



f Potash 



| Lime 

 Phosphoric acid 



j Ca.'bonic acid as \ 



1^ Carbonate of lime J 

 Combined water and organic matter 

 Humus (soluble in ammonia) 

 Nitrogen 



Hygroscopic moisture 



FERTILITY ANALYSIS. 



Available potash 

 Available phosphoric acid 



Per cent. 

 44 



at 100 deg. C.) 

 27-N70 

 72-130 

 •6796 



1- 379 



2- 760 



-600 



25-100 

 9-860 

 •7036 

 24-860 



0-0571 

 0-0908 



OBSERVATIONS, 



" This is a remarkable soil. It contains a large proportion of veget- 

 able mould, and is yet possessed of a desirable proportion of fine soil 

 particles. It is both free-draining and retentive of moisture — an 

 ideal medium for the root system of the banana. The subsoil is porous 

 and self-draining. The proportion of nitrogen and phosphoric acid is 

 jnost extraordinary, the lormer being seven times and the latter thirty 

 times greater than good average arable land in England. The available 

 potash and phosphoric acid are both high. This is a typical specimen 

 of a Jamaican soil specially prepared, as it were, for the kindly growth 



