THE SELECTION OF LAND FOR GENERAL FARMING IN THE GULF 

 COAST REGION EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The agricultural opportunities in this section of the South are 

 attracting many people from other localities, chiefly from the North- 

 ern States. In the last few years there has been marked activity on 

 the part of real-estate and colonization companies, as well as of rail- 

 ways and some industrial organizations, in advertising the resources 

 of this region and particularly in promoting the sale of the cut-over 

 pine lands. 



The majority of the immigrants who purchase land for general 

 farming have had little or no experience with such soils as commonly 

 occur in this part of the Gulf Coast country. In too many instances 

 the choice of location is largely determined by considerations other 

 than the character of the soil or its adaptability to the kind of farm- 

 ing to be pursued. While accessibility to markets, the local facilities 

 for transportation, and communication, as well as the general social 

 conditions of a locality should be given due consideration, the soil 

 itself is of first importance in the selection of land for a farm home. 



This paper discusses only the general soil characteristics, and but 

 little more than mentions the chief problems in southern agriculture. 

 It gives briefly such information as should be at the command of any- 

 one contemplating the purchase of farm land. 



- The territory to which reference is made embraces the southern 

 third of Mississippi and the adjoining portion of Louisiana to the 

 south ; that part of Alabama below the " Black Belt " ; 1 the southern 

 counties of Georgia, and the northern ones of Florida. The peninsu- 

 lar portion of the latter State is excluded, since its main physio- 

 graphic and geologic features differ from those of the region to the 

 north and northwest. A line drawn from Vicksburg, Miss., through 

 Jackson and Meridian, thence a little south of Montgomery, Ala., to 

 Savannah, Ga., roughly marks the northern limits, although no sharp 

 boundaries are intended or even possible to outline. 



1 The calcareous soils of south-central Alabama, forming an irregular belt 10 to 25 miles 

 wide across the State just below Montgomery. 



6787 Cir. 4311 3 



