BEPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 181 



2579. This is a sample of wliat is known as " creek bottom land," 

 having been taken from Flaggan Creek, near Alexandria, La. : 



The term is applied to the narrow helta of land bordering on each side of the small 

 oroeks in the pine hiUs. In this particular locality the formation extends on both 

 sides nf the creek over a thonsand acres. Owing to its slight eleyation these lands 

 are subject to overflow ; the ^ound is slightly undulating, and situated within a fev, 

 hundred yards of the creek, into which it easily drains. The soil is generally thin, 

 not more than 12 inches deep. The subsoil is stiffer and soon becomes a thick bliiisL-. 

 fl.'iy, intermiugled with sand and gravel. The principal forest growths are whi:' 

 o;ik, hickory, beech, ash, and magnolia. 



The sample was taken from a field of 20 acres, which has been sixteon 

 years in cultivation in corn, cotton, and oats. Yield from 30 to 40 

 l)ushels of corn and from 200 to 300 pounds of lint cotton. No manure 

 has been used except by planting peas in the corn. 



2580. This was taken from " a field in the pine hills, back of the creek 

 lands, and is a fair specimen of these lands, which embrace three-fourths 

 of the area of this parish. The lands are high, rolling, and heavily tim- 

 bered with pines, Finns palust7'is, and are not much valued for cultiva- 

 tion. The lands being hilly are easily and naturally drained into the 

 creeks. The field from whence the sample was taken has been culti- 

 vated in corn, cotton, and oats, with light yields. In good seasons not 

 more than 10 to 15 bushels of corn and 100 to 125 pounds of lint cotton 

 per acre have been produced. The soil is only a few inches deep, and 

 the subsoil consists of sand, gravel, and clay." 



2581 and 2582. Soils from the plantation of William Harris, on Bayou 

 Eobert, near Alexandria, La. 



These soils are of the same formation as those taken from Mr. Siep's 

 plantation, and possess similar characteristics, beiag alluvial bottom 

 lands of the Eed Eiver Valley. 



In regard to the analyses, Nos. 2574 and 2576, the samples agree very 

 closely in their contents of the more important soil constituents, viz, 

 phosphoric acid, potash, lime, &g., though the amount of nitrogen in the 

 former is nearly double that in the latter, which might be expected 

 from a virgin soil. 



Kos. 2575 and 2577 show a less amount of potash, phosphoric acid, 

 and nitrogen than No. 2571, owing to their having been under cultiva- 

 tion for a longer period, and no attempt having been made to keep up 

 the supply by the use of manures. As far as chemical analysis is con- 

 cerned, all these soils are rich enough in all the necessary soil constitu- 

 ents for the continued raising of abundant crops, though the continued 

 cropping, year after year, without the use of manure is not to be recom- 

 mended if an abundant yield is to be maintained. A moderate appli- 

 cation of farm-yard manure, or the ashes of the cotton plant and seeds 

 mixed with lime would certainly result in an increased yield. 



The sample of creek bottom land, No. 2579, is deficient in its contents 

 of lime, and the application of this fertilizer would undoubtedly increase 

 the productiveness of the land. In other respects it is sufficiently rich. 



The analysis of the sample of pine-hill land. No. 2580, shows the com- 

 plete absence of phosphoric acid and a gteat deficiency of lime ; in fact 

 it is nearly aU pure quartz sand. It would seem to be a hopeless task 

 to bring such soils to any degree of profitable fertility, as there is a 

 general deficiency of the most important plant constituents. The con- 

 tinued application of such fertilizers as South Carolina phosphates, 

 containing both lime and phosphoric acid and farm-yard and cotton-seed 

 manures, with the admixture of some of the red clay soils, would in the 

 eourse of time greatly improve such lands, and as they cover nearly 



