Sessional_Paper_1929 — Page 187

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On the whole, samples A, D and E are somewhat similar in character and appear to be the most promising for cultivation, samples B and F are fair except for their low content of phosphoric acid, while samples C, G and H must be regarded as of poor quality.

All the soils except E have an acid reaction and for the satisfactory growth of most crops this condition needs correcting by the addition of lime or ground limestone. Groundnuts and other leguminous crops in particular need an abundant supply of lime and prefer a soil having a neutral or alkaline reaction. Fruit trees also usually thrive best on a non-acid soil. The acidity of the soils combined with the high annual rainfall renders them not very promising for cultivation on a large scale. It is stated that pine trees are growing on most of the uncultivated land from which samples were taken, and it may be remarked that these trees usually thrive well on acid soils.

For most ordinary crops, the chief need of these soils, except sample E, is for heavy applications of lime, followed in most cases by a phosphatic manure. Of the uncultivated soils, sample D appears to be the most promising, while samples B, C, G and H would probably need extensive manuring to be of much use for crops.

As regards specific crops for these soils, if the recommendations made in this report with regard to liming and manuring are carried out, they should be suited for the growth of most ordinary crops.. The cultivation of sugar cane cannot be recommended, as it requires very good supplies of all the important plant food constituents and hence makes heavy demands on the soil. Provided the soil is well supplied with lime, groundnuts should give a satisfactory crop, particularly on the lighter soils, but this crop is unsuited to an acid soil.

It seems probable that some at least of the failures of fruit trees mentioned in the Report of the Economic Resources Committee of Hong Kong, 1920, were due to the acid nature of the soils. When this is corrected and provided that the fruit trees, especially in their early stages, are protected from high winds, the prospects of obtaining satisfactory crops would be much improved.

The soils, after suitable treatment and with the possible exceptions of those repre- sented by samples C, G and H, which are of poor general fertility, should be suitable for the growing of vegetables such as cabbage, onion, cauliflower, lettuce, celery and tomatoes. The actual crops to be planted would of course have to be chosen with a view to their commercial value when grown, but it seems likely that there should be a good market in Hong Kong itself for local-grown market-garden produce.

It should be noted, however, that successful crop cultivation largely depends on local conditions, such as climate, altitude and aspect. There is evidently a very heavy rainfall between May and October, which may have an adverse influence on certain crops and must be taken into consideration.

May, 1929.