VAprrr, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 307 
, the ordinary rough-and-ready method among coffee-growers in all parts of 
the world in selecting ]and is to judge by the vegetation growing on the land. 
od scrub, tall and straight trees, especially soft-wooded trees, will seldom grow 
_ Mhere the soil is poor. ‘Ihe bush and weed growths are reliable indications also, 
din a very little while the presence or absence of certain plants will be noted 
Md remarked on as a good or bad indication of the suitability of the soil to the 
s0wth of coffee. For instance, the presence of the common bracken fern in 
Some coffee-crowing centres is considered a good indication, and I have had the 
| Uesence of the lawyer cane pointed out tome in Queensland as indication of 
} “hscrub land. 
| ___ ft is always well to take a spade when attempting to judge soils, and to 
take a hole here and there, cutting straight down on one side, and noting the 
“pth as well as the quality of the surface soil, top subsoil, and lower subsoil. 
the surface or top soil is fairly dark, loose, and porous, and full of small 
“otlets, it will be an indication of richness in humus, which, in other words, is 
"Manic matter including nitrogen. A rough-and-ready test of subsoils among 
‘Hee-planters is to take a handful up and slightly squeeze it; then turn the 
and over and drop the soil quickly. A light porous soil will fall in a shower 
a ia, eave some adhering to the hand; a heavy soil will fall in small as ng 
| ; bate oR mata ariastltan 
iB lie the hand almost clean ; clay Ww ull ping and fall in one ball, leaving a sticky 
Cation on the hand somewhat like a coat of paint. 
3s Another rough-and-ready test of the absorption of subsoils is a bueket or 
| Not water. Having saturated the bottom of the hole, pour in a bucket of 
“ter and note the time it takes to disappear. Ifit takes long, you may be sure 
at wet weather the coffee will suffer before the subsoil can be effectively 
ed, 
cone surface soils there are several rough-and-ready tests. A little soil 
| % €n up in a bottle of water and left will settle down showing the proportion, 
} —Ushly, of course, of fine gravel or coarse sand, fine sand, clay, and mould, The 
| Mesence of excessive lime may be determined by the addition of a little vinegar, 
{a slight effervesence may be observed. Soils containing an excess of 
“tbonate of lime, however, would appear to be rare in North Queensland. 
€ amount of humus may be found by drying some soil carefully in the 
hes? Weighing it in small scales, and then burning it on a bit of tin or tron 
ed to redness over a flame, and noting the difference in weight. Percentages 
Lo a 
Coy 
seg 
What’ be of no use if determined, but if these tests be applied it is remarkable 
a 
differences can be found in apparently identical soils, and for matter of 
emson they will,.I know from experience, be found very useful. The 
Ject of soils is a vast one, and is worth reading up and studying if the grower 
time and inclination to do so. : 
ah olour is generally not much guide until experience has, in any one place, 
a that soils of certain colours are good, bad, or indifferent. Generally, a 
Quavite-coloured soil is good, but some of the richest I have met with here in 
‘ eacusland are quite light in colour. Soils vary very much indeed, and would 
sae to be peculiarly patchy, differing in colour and consistency to a great 
amd even in a small clearing. Red and dark-chocolate soils are also good, 
de mayen black soils in Queensland will carry coffee well. Clay soils and exces- 
wel, sandy soils are to be met with in some of the heavy rainfall districts, as 
lik ia on the coast. The sandy soils are frequently poor in humus, weak and 
Th y to change for the worse on the scrub being remoyed. Most soils change 
g fllour on being exposed to the sun, and those that appear clayey on the 
ce often prove friable on cultivation. 
for A deep black soil frequently denotes a heavy subsoil. Such soils are to be 
: not infrequently on forest land. The deeper the surface soil the better 
Coffee, for it is on the surface soil that the tree principally lives. In 
iy pining soils, it will generally be noticed that the soil gets lighter in colour 
4... Sets deeper ; the true subsoil is not reached, however, until the nature of 
Soil changes. 
SM? seme AF Na 
a a as 
BT Be hee bn hee tae ee 
ld not, of course, be determined by the ordinary grower, and would, in many ~ 
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