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things known, but in applying this knowledge locally it is often 

 found that there are other conditions which we are not yet able to 

 explain. For instance, one soil may to all appearances be physically 

 suited and yet be a failure, while another may seem to be anything 

 but a pineapple soil and yet produce a satisfactory growth of plants 

 and yield of fruit. It is therefore never safe to say that a field will 

 or will not produce pineapples before making a practical test. 



The amount of preparation needed and the methods to be followed 

 will depend entirely upon the class of soil selected. 



SANDY SOIL. 



Sandy soils are those in which sand predominates and which are 

 found between Eio Piedras and the ocean, and between the railroad 

 and the ocean from Manati to Dorado. Such land, if it is new — that 

 is, has not been under cultivation for many years — is usually free from 

 obnoxious grasses and the first preparation will be to clear off the 

 trees and shrubs, if any, and plow it to kill the vegetation. In a few 

 weeks the sod will be decayed and the land can be worked with a har- 

 row or any other tool suitable for fining and smoothing. After that 

 the beds may be laid off according to the system of planting desired. 



CLAY SOIL. 



A clay soil is one that consists almost entirely of clay, such as is 

 typically found in the Mayaguez district. Such land, although it may 

 not be under cultivation at the present time, has frequently been culti- 

 vated within the last generation and often contains noxious weeds, such 

 as malojillo grass, Bermuda grass, nut grass, etc., and it is essential that 

 all weeds and grasses be eradicated before planting pines. Of course 

 it is practically impossible to eradicate nut grass, but wherever the soil 

 is full of it planting pines is not to be recommended. The prepar- 

 atory step, as with sandy land, is plowing. If it is in the rainy sea- 

 son, it will be useless to try to eradicate malojillo and Bermuda grass 

 and it will save work as well as greatly improve the soil to plant a 

 cover crop which is known to grow vigorously in the locality. Such 

 a crop will often entirely kill out the weeds and, when plowed under, 

 will add humus, which is much needed in these heavy soils. If it is 

 in the dry season most of the weeds can be eradicated in a few weeks 

 by harrowing, which exposes the roots to the sun, and by gathering 

 up and carting off some of the material if it does not dry fast enough. 

 But under all conditions the first and absolutely essential thing is the 

 eradication of all joint grasses before planting. The next thing is 

 fining and smoothing of the soil. A pineapple bed should be loose, 

 porous, mellow, and free from clods. 



