52 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



able to haul clay for fertilizing the sandy soils, this is especial 

 ly adapted to the fulfilment of all the ends which may be ob 

 tained by the use of clay. 



It rests upon the shell marl in some places, and in others 

 upon the eocene marl. The circumstances attending its de 

 position were peculiar. It appears to have been deposited 

 immediately after a period of denudation, as it rests not only 

 upon the marl, but extends into, and fills deep channels which 

 had been cut out of the marl during the period alluded to. 

 Hence it appears to send down long tapering columns which 

 extend sometimes to a point near the bottom of the bed. 

 This formation, however, was formed from quiet waters, as 

 there is no evidence of a rush or violent flow of waters, by 

 the presence of large rocks, or even coarse pebbles. It has 

 some coarse sand intermixed with pebbles. It has the appear 

 ance of a sediment, which was probably derived from the 

 decomposing slates and granite, which lie beneath the terti 

 ary, but which is now concealed, except in a few isolated 

 places. 



On submitting this soil to analysis I found it composed of 



Silex, 77.850 



Alumina and peroxide of iron, 10.107 



Lime, 2.000 



Mfcgneisa, 1.810 



Organic matter, 3.950 



Water, 5.750 



Sulphuric acid, 0.010 



Chlorine, 0.010 



Potash. 0.185 



Soda, 0.345 



Soluble silica, 0.100 



99,815 



This soil is rich in lime, which is in part derived from a few 

 small fragments of shell which it contains, but it efferveses 

 but slightly, and hence it is probable the lime is diffused 

 rather uniformly through the mass. When this mass lies 

 immediately beneath the sandy soil, and within reach of 

 the plough, it would improve it very much to commingle it 

 with the surface material, and it need not be rejected in load- 



