BUREAU OF SOILS. 173 



the soil survey to them should give a basis for the best and most 

 economical development of their agricultural resources at a time when 

 so many people are looking to these islands for investments and when 

 the people of the islands themselves need all the help that can be 

 given them, 



SOUTH CAEOLINA. 



During the past fiscal jeav an area of 686 square miles has been 

 surveyed around Abbeville, and on the completion of this work the 

 party, in charge of Mr. Taylor, will make a survey of Darlington 

 County, particularly in the interest of the bright-tobacco growers and 

 truck growers. 



It is proposed to detail a party for nine months during the coming 

 field season to survey an area in Spartanburg, Pickens, and Orange- 

 burg counties, particularly in the interest of the cotton, fruit, and 

 bright-tobacco growers. 



SOUTH DAKOTA. 



No surveys have been carried on in this State, nor are any contem- 

 plated for the present field season. It seems desirable, however, to 

 assign a party for a period of three months during the next field season 

 to start a survey in Brookings County. 



TENNESSEE. 



During the past fiscal year a survey in the interest of the tobacco 

 growers was made of Montgomery Countj^, embracing an area of 

 547 square miles, under the direction of Mr. J. E. Lapham. Among 

 the important results of this survey has been the suggestion that one 

 type of soil, which is at present of little agricultural value and which 

 covers a considerable area, is adapted to fruit growing, and it is 

 believed that this interest could be introduced with profit to the com- 

 munity. It was hoped that the survey would be the basis of an inves- 

 tigation of the possibilities of improving the tobacco interests, but 

 the appropriation for the Bureau was not sufficient to enable this to 

 be done. 



It is proposed to extend the soil survey to Greene, Cumberland, and 

 Davidson counties, assigning a party to this work for a period of about 

 nine months during the coming field season. 



TEXAS. 



During the past field season the Willis area of 215 square miles has 

 been surveyed in the interest of the tobacco growers, and a party of 

 tobacco experts has been placed there to investigate the possibility 

 of producing a more desirable filler tobacco. 



The Alvin area was also started under the direction of Mr. Bennett, 

 and this and the Brazoria area will probably be completed during the 

 present field season. This is particularly in the interest of the fruit 

 growers around Alvin and of the sugar interests around Brazoria. 



It is also proposed to survey an area during the present field season 

 around Vernon, in the Panhandle of Texas, in the interest particularlj'^ 

 of the wheat growers and with the view that the results may be useful 

 in the introduction of macaroni wheat. 



Representations have been made to the Department which make it 

 api)ear advisable to assign a partj^ to this State for at least nine 



