940 APPENDIX.

The other is a stiff clay on a substratum of marl; it is much és fertile than the former, and abounds with an inirradicable kind of grass, in such a manner, that many estates consisting of that kind of soul, which were once very profitable, are now so impoverished and over-grown with this sort of grass,* as either to be converted into pas- ture land, or to become entirely abandoned. Exclusive of such deserted land, and a small part of country that is altogether unimprovable, every part of the Island may

be said to be under cultivation

ISLAND OF JAMAICA.

VOL. II. BOOK Vir PAGE 204

6 It may be supposed, that a plant thus rank and suceu- Jent requires 2 strong and deep soil to bring it to perfection, and as far as my own observation has extended, I am of

opinion that no land can be#o rich for that purpose.

“‘ The very best soil, however, that I have seen or hear d of, for the production of sugar, of the finest qua lity and in

* Perhaps the tendency which this soil has to produce this kind of grass, might

be corrected by lime, alkaline or neutral salts.

so