OF SOUTH CAROLANA. - 953 
materials that were once suspended in water, or rolled along by its force, and deposited, generally 
without any order having reference to mineralogical character. 'The modifications which they pre- 
sent are, therefore, often due to the physical features of the country, and their relative position. 
Although the whole region is underlaid by lime, it is only in a tew limited spots that it has exerted 
any influence on the soil. The alluvial soils derive their character from the rocks over which the 
rivers flow, whose debris they bring down. The materials of which these soils are formed become 
finer as they approach the coast, in proportion as the transporting power of the water becomes less. 
Nearly all the rivers of the State flow, for a considerable distance, over marl, the finer particles of 
which they carry with them in their progress, to enrich the alluvial soils towards the coast. 
A few of the rivers, as the Edisto and its branches, that do not rise high up the country, but flow 
through extensive swamps, bring down much vegetable matter, which gives a peculiar character to 
the alluvial on their banks. 
Classification of Soils of the State. 
Granitic soils, including those derived from gneiss. 
Trap soils, including those derived from rocks in which hornblende abounds. 
Mica slate soils. 
Talcose slate soils. 
Soils of the clay slates. 
Soils of the Tertiary formation. 
. Alluvial soils. 
ia the general views of soils, given in the preceding pages, the characteristics of the granitic soils 
of the State were pointed out. The soils of the coarse, crystalline, and feldspathic granites are 
loose in texture, of a gray color, and are almost invariably appropriated to the cotton crop, wherever 
they are found. Taken altogether, they are among the best upland soils of the State, excepting 
occasionally, when found on the tops of ridges, where there is often little left besides the quartz 
grains, the other constituents being washed away. 
The following analyses of soils are intended to illustrate the general character of the soils of the 
State, and no more. Analyses of soils, to answer the requirements of agriculture, at the present 
day, by determining the composition of every variety of soil in the State, would require the undi- 
vided labor of many years. 
eS ee 
Analysis of Granitic Soils. 
No. 1 is from Union, near the village; No. 2, ftom the hills near Grindal Shoals; No. 3, from the 
Saluda, near Neely’s Ferry. 
No. 1 INo. 2. No. 3 
Orban mather en aaa ae ae roQeeee SO gears Se OO 
Silinaiee Mae Fro8 home ee A eS S24082 525252 SSO eats oe 90.00 
SALUTE ea eee Se te one G20 saenne EARS sae. = 7.40 
Oxide oh wroneeenee ee oe a Ope see QiGgereeee < 3.00 
Lime? 22 eee nee ee O20 Seas Ob Oess ee = 
Magnesite see oe se eee ee OOSSse r= £. OARS EEE s = 1.00 
‘Potash’ and sudasoee a ene ee se traces on OO eae. 0.60 
Wrater andsloss. ee eens cee oe OARS A le Pin =Sa55 5.40 
100.00 100.00 100.00 
