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States, and has been kind enough to furnish me with the follow- 
ing remark^ on the soils and a most interesting table of analyses 
of typical soils taken from different rubber districts : 
“The soils of Malaya are not specially rich in plant food 
but their physical characters are exceptionally good, and this 
together with the unequalled climate for plant growth constitute 
conditions for the vigorous growth of rubber and other crops not 
to be found elsewhere. 
Typical Soils of Mala,y States. 
“ The soils may be roughly divided into two distinct kinds : 
“A. The Hat 'alluvial clays or muds on the banks of 
rivers and near the sea coast. 
“ B. The undulating low soils a few miles inland, 
where they vary from free sandy loams .to 
heavy clays. 
“ Peaty soils on clay usually lying a few miles from the coast. 
“ The alluvial clays or muds are in an. exceedingly line state 
of division, about 96 per cent, passing through a mesh of 8,100 
per square inch, and the balance through a mesh of 3,600 per 
square inch. 
“ Although having the appearance of fine clays there is very 
little alumina present, the bulk of the soil being composed of very 
finely divided sand and insoluble silicates. When wet they are 
compact and greasy, but on drying they break up into compara- 
tively free loams, through which roots can permeate freely, so 
that, unless liable to flooding with shit water, they are all well 
suited for the growth of para rubber, coconuts and liberian coffee. 
“ The amount of organic matter in these soils varies con- 
siderably from 8 to 35 per cent., or even more if the surface 
layer is at all peaty. They are generally very rich in nitrogen, 
containing from 0.4 to 0.9 per cent, on the air-dried soil ; a soil 
with 0,2 per cent, being considered rich in other countries. 
“ With regard to the mineral matter, which forms the ash 
of the plants, they are not so rich ; although the exceedingly fine 
state of division of the soils renders a high proportion less 
necessary. They are more or less deficient in lime, which 
accounts for the markedly acid character of the soils when first 
opened ; the acidity is neutralised to some extent by ash from 
the burnt forest, but it also gradually diminishes as the drainage 
water is removed to a lower level and the soil becomes aerated. 
“ Magnesia is present in ample quantity in most cases. 
