Mr. Dent gave the following report : 
Moisture Ash 
A 76.60% - 33 % 
B 56.90% - 94 % 
This ash apparently consisted of the potash, a trace 
of iron, etc., derived from the decayed 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 soi 
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 II per cent, water, 
shipping tobacco soil, 12-18 per cent., pasture soil 
18-23 pericent.” 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, which 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 the peat he is refer- 
Ash Calculated from 
Dry Sample 
1.43% 
2.18% 
