, 1891-05-02

LII OIuCI W OCSIOO WLldU NILO "a GASA
is best adapted for our soil it is first necessary
to study its geological composition, its natu-
raj capacity for drainage and the yearly
amount of rainfall.
We notice in Santa Cruz several classes of
subsoil, viz: Mari or Lime, Clay, Rottenstone,
Gravel and Sand.
The first class of subsoil, viz: the Mari or
Lime seems best adapted for our staple pro-
duce, the sugar-cane, for in the locality where
this kind of soil is predominant in its geologic
al composition you will find the most thriving
sugar estates.
4Claylseems also to be adapted for the sugar
cane and chiefly on account of its capacity for
retaining moisture; only in localities not
fayoured with natural drainage, is the Guilt
walton of this kind of soil attended with
difficulties.
Rotten stone, or clay mixed with gravel and
sand, produces sugar we'll when assisted with
sufficient moisture. A look at the map of
Santa Cruz will verify the truth of this, for
in the part of the island known to be less
favoured with rain, the sugar cultivation has
by degrees been given up, whereas in the
same kind of soil, where the yearly fall of
rain is more than q general average, the cane
cultivation is still kept up.
According to the information found in the
tables of rainfall, and which have, for a
number of years been collected and laid out,
in an easily comprehended manner, on maps
of the island, by DIR. Med. Neumann, we
notice, that the best favoured place with re-
gard to this. our only reliable source of moist
IRE, is the Northwestern part, next comes the
Centre part, and less favoured seems the East
and some parts of the South side.
am indebted to the courtesy of DR.. Neu-
mann for the map of rainfall and to School In
spector Quin, forthe geolo gical map exhibited
here In the hall,
To the School Inspector / am also indebted
for the following geological noses:
In Santa Cruz there are two great classes
of rocks.
/. Composed mainly of ~aluminaI and sill
ca, forming either felsite or slaty rocks.
BY decomposition, under the action Of the
weather, the slate breaks up into slices, the
felsite into "Rotten stone" Further decompo-
sition forms soils either gravelly or clayey
or a mixture of clay and gravel.
II. Calcareous rocks these lie on top of the
others, in Centre and South of Island. De.
compose into white mari and finally into soils
which are, in some places, red owing to pres
ence of much iron in the rocks, in others ash
coloured.
Our cultivation, as it is at present carried
on. must be termed deep, because we strive to
prepare our seed-bed below the mother soil or
as near to the subsoil as practicable.
In order to do this. we prepare the field
in rows, Of suitable distance and between
the rows we scoop out the mother soil or up
per layer, and, in the bottom of this hole or
trench, the cane top is planted.
informing this kind of cultivation deep,
we must however bear in mind, that by deep
cultivation must properly be understood,
deep tillipg or, thorough pulyerizing of the
soil to the greatest depth possible; the seed
bed being prepared in the surface or mother
soil itself. This kind of cultivation is follow
ad oin countries favoured with sufficient
moisture, and may be termed: "deep with
surface cultivation in distinction to the Gull
tivation carried on in Santa Cruz, and which
most properly may be termed deep, with
subsoil cultivation"
In localities where the subsoil is pure clay
and not covered with much mould or not
naturally drained, recourse must be had to
artificial drainage such as, open trenches or
surface drainage.
Underground or tile drainage is always
the best, and is, with excellent result. carried
on in countries where the higher value of the
land j~ustifes this extraordinary addition to
the expense of cultivation.
All over the world, where agriculture is
successfully carried out, deep cultivation is the
order of the day, and this should be the aim
ofeHery ambitious agriculturist to strive after
ITO improve his subsoil in order to enable