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APPENDIX. 7 247

in the largest proportion, is the ashy loam of Saint Chris- topher’s, of which an account has been given in the His- tory of that Island. Next to that is the soil which, in Ja- miaica, 1s called brick-mould; not as resembling a brick in colour, but as containing such a due mixture of clay and sand as is supposed to render it well adapted for the use of the kiln. Itis a deep, warm, and mellow hazzle earth, easily worked; and though its surface soon grows dry after rain, the under-stratum retains a considerable degree of moisture in the driest weathers; with this ad- vantage too, that even in the wettest weather it seldom requires trenching. Plant-canes in this soil,(which are those of the first growth) have been known in very fine seasons to yield two tons and a half of sugar per acre; after this may be rekoned the d/ack mould of several va- rieties. The best is the deep black earth of Barbadoes, Antigua, and some other of the Windward Islands; but there is a species of ths mould in Jamaica that is but little, if any thing inferior to it, which abounds with lime- stone and flint on a substratum of soapy marl. Black mould on clay is more common; but as the mould is generally shallow, and the clay stiff and retentive of water, this last sort of land requires great labour, both in ploughing

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