4 SELECTION OF LAND IN THE GULF COAST REGION. 



The northern part of this region has a general elevation of 400 to 

 500 feet. While there is a gradual slope toward the south, it does 

 not in all instances extend entirely to sea level. In many places the 

 uplands have an average elevation of 100 feet or more to within a 

 few miles of the coast. 



The topography is varied, ranging from very hilly areas to broad, 

 undulating divides which include considerable level land. In gen- 

 eral it may be described as hilly to rolling. The larger valleys usually 

 have considerable second bottom or bench land. 



A magnificent forest of longleaf pine once covered practically all 

 the hills and well-drained areas in the valleys. Most of the low land 

 along the streams was covered with a mixed growth of deciduous 

 trees, pine, and underbrush, varied by comparatively open cane- 

 brakes. The cane has largely disappeared, but much of the low 

 land is still densely forested. The total area of true swamp is gen- 

 erally overestimated. Much of the so-called swamp is overflow land, 

 comparatively dry the greater part of the year. 



While the physical factors governing so largely the permanent 

 agricultural value of soils, as herein mentioned., apply to old land 

 as well as new, the intelligent selection of the latter is of the more im- 

 portance to the average investor, as it is the cut-over lands that are 

 so generally being offered for sale. 



In the selection of land for general farming, there are five im- 

 portant factors that should be given careful consideration. They 

 may be summarized as follows: (1) In all sections of this region 

 there are wide local variations in the soils; (2) on account of the 

 amount and distribution of the rainfall effective drainage is highly 

 essential; (3) the cost of clearing cut-over land is frequently under- 

 estimated; (4) with few exceptions the soils are deficient in humus; 

 and (5) artificial fertilization is required for most crops. 



LOCAL, VARIATIONS IN SOIL TYPES 



A glance at a detailed soil map of almost any area in the Gulf 

 Coast country will show the diversified character of the land. On 

 the scale of map used 1 inch to the mile the minor variations can 

 not be represented, although in most of the later surveys from 15 

 to 30 soil types and phases have been mapped and described. These 

 reports, as a rule, cover but one county. 



Notwithstanding the similarity in surface features presented on 

 extensive tracts of arable land, the areas are comparatively limited 

 usually less than a few hundred acres in an unbroken body where 

 the soil is sufficiently uniform to be classed as one type. There are 

 generally several classes of soil, sands, sandy loams, and loams occur- 

 ring in the same locality, or even within the limits of a moderate- 

 sized farm. 



