THE BANANA SOILS OF JAMAICA.-II.* By H. H. COUSINS, M.A., FC.S., Government Analytical and Agricultural Chemist. The first report on the results obtained at the Government Laboratory on the banana soils of Jamaica appeared in the Bulletin for October 1901. Since that time, a good many representative banana soils have been analyzed and in 6 cases manurial experiments bave been carried out, from which the first season's results have now been obtained. During the present season, nine series of manurial experiments on bananas have been started, the results of which should serve as a valuable commentary on the deductions based on the soil-analyses. Following the plan adopted in the previous paper of considering the soils according to the parishes, the results of analysis are here given in this form. I. ST. MARY. This, the chief banana parish of the Island, shall head the list. Manurial experiments have been carried out on three distinct types of soil in this parish, and arrangements are now complete for 6 distinct series of these experiments on the crop of 1903. A.-Quebec Park-Hon. R. P. Simmonds. A piece of level land apparently rather below par, judging from the grade of fruit produced -7 and 8 hands-was selected. The piece known as Duthie's Level is almost surrounded with watercourses and is liable on occasion to be flooded. The analysis is as follows: SOIL ANALYSIS. Reference Number 55. Source Details-Experimental Plots.— Duthie's Level, Quebec Park Depth of Sample-9 inches. PHYSICAL ANALYSIS. Per Cent. Total 7.41 100.00 Retentive Power for water ... Per Cent. *Continued from Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, Oct., 1901, Vol. viii., page 145. This soil consists almost entirely of fine sand and silt. It drains readily and yet has a high absorptive power for water. The humus, nitrogen and potash are all above the normal. There is no lack of. carbonete of lime The reserve of phosphoric acid is not very high On the other hand, the available potash and phosphoric acid are so high that I do not anticipate that commercial fertilizers will prove remunerative on this soil. In my opinion the grade of fruit obtainable from this land is limited by the seasons and the cultural management. The maintenance of the humus is, of course, an important matter for the future; otherwise commercial fertilisers should not be necessary for a long time to come. MANURIAL EXPERIMENTS. Nine plots of variable size, distance of plants 10 x 10 feet. * Superphosphate 3 parts, Steamed Bone Flour 2 parts. Applied August 1901, Treatment repeated Autumn of 1902. "The manured plots of bananas have grown well, but show very little difference in the plants, except slightly better in the "treble phosphate" plot. The fruit already produced is the same as the piece usually grows, viz. : large 7 and 8 hands." Report from Hon. R. P. Simmonds. The manurial results, so far, correspond with the deductions from the analysis, viz.: that nitrogen, phosphate and potash are already present in adequate amount in this soil. A second year's trial is now on hand, and if no appreciable results are then obtained, I propose to try experiments on different modes of cultivation. B.-Llanrumney.- Messrs. Kerr & Co. per Mr. L. B. Melville. A level piece of land closely similar to the Quebec land in character was selected for the experiments. The bananas were established somewhat irregularly, and some were lifted and the plantation straightened up, previous to the application of the manures. Manures applied Sept., 1901, repeated for 1902-3. These results are negative. The experiment is being repeated and records made of the results. The analysis is as follows: |