the: 
Vol. X.] COLOMBO, SEPTEMBER ist, 1890. [No. 3 . 
THE BARREN SOILS OF CEYLON. 
E have been asked for inform- 
ation as to the nature of 
any experiments hitherto 
made with the object of re- 
storing fertility to the soils 
met with in various parts of 
this island, which seem to 
be generally regarded as being in their present 
condition of no use to the agriculturist. It is 
unfortunately the case that a very large area 
of land is to be met with in widely scattered 
districts that seems for some reason or other to 
be possessed of that character, and those districts 
differ greatly in the appearance of their soils, and, 
also in the constituents composing them. 
There are the well-known extensive patanas of 
Uva and our higher lands generally, and there is a 
very extensive acreage of what is commonly known 
as the black cotton soil met so largely in the Mannar 
and other districts of the Northern and North- 
Central Provinces and in the neighbourhood of Put- 
talam in the North-west Province. Much of this 
soil, while of the consistency of soft mud in the wet 
season, is hard, at least on the surface, and scored by 
innumerable cracks in the dry season. It is pointed 
out to us by our querist that, as the population of 
Ceylon increases — and we know that this develop, 
ment proceeds at a fair average pace — the greater 
part of these lands now lying waste must come 
into demand for cultivation. The question raised 
is, as to what forma of growth these soils may 
be adapted to and by what means that adaptation 
may be secured and extended. 
Probably the only view that can be advanced 
in reply to such a query must bo an eoonomical 
one. Wo should doubt exceedingly if there could 
be found any soil in Ceylon which, by some 
forms of treatment, could not be improved to 
some_ degree of fertility. We have seen in 
English experience bow even the siliceous sands 
of latj’de to'odmid froto the eea IjaVe, by the 
application of sewage, been converted into smiling 
fields, yielding in due season their plentiful harvests. 
If such an apparently hopeless recipient can be 
•made the basis for the admixture of fertilizing 
constituents, it is certain we need not fear that 
even our poorest sifils in this island would be 
unsusceptible of similar treatment, to be followed 
by similar success. But the ‘drenching’ so to 
speak of long untilled lands with an almost un- 
limited supply of manurial stimulants, such as has 
converted as above described the sands of the 
sea into cultivable fields, is. for verv many reasons, 
of course impracticable with us. We only cite the 
case as an example to show how needless would 
be the fear that the barren lands of this island must, 
all of them for ever remain in their present condition 
of uselessness. There is more of physical as well 
as intellectual improvement wrapped up in the 
future than “ has been dreamed of in our philo- 
sophy.” 
But it is suggested to us that — as is well-known 
to be the case — a good deal of the land that comes 
within the category we hive mentioned has in 
former times been under cultivation which ceased 
with the existence of a population adequate to 
continue it. It is the fact, we believe, that land 
of a certain character and in certain conditions, 
which cannot be classed as “virgin,” deteriorates 
rapidly from want of cultivation. This is not the 
ease with soils that have never been disturbed by 
man, and it is suggested that the deterioration in in- 
stances when such disturbance has occurred is due 
to the cessation of aeration of the subsoil. We 
cannot profess, of course, to write upon this 
subject with the authority of an expert in such 
matters ; but it is known to all of us what differ- 
ent results follow deep ploughing, and the conae- 
quent free exposure to air of the soil and the 
immediately underlying subsoil, to those which 
attend mere surface scratching. The theory 
advanc<'d, therefore, that these lands of ours which 
in a byegone time were probably under full annupj 
cultivation now fail of fertility owing to the absPjcQ 
of free aeration, may not be altogether wide bf the 
mark. At all events, as it has been su^geEted to 
us, experiments might well be tried by Gcvernment 
Agents and their Assistants in differer,i, localities with 
the objeet of testing this theory. A few acres of 
patana, blackcotton, and other at present unproductive 
soils, might be ploughed deeply, and left in that 
state to aerate for one or two suceessive seasons, 
after which some sort of cultivation deemed likely 
to be most suitable might, be tried upon them. 
Should success follow, a clue might be gained to 
the secret by which these lands might be rendered 
serviceable, independently of aji^ attepppWwhich we 
