142 THE PIEDMONT REGION. 



ing country. The soil is of a rich, dark brown chocolate color. Some- 

 times jet black. The subsoil is a yellow, waxy clay, exceedingly tena- 

 cious, and, where the rocks are not thoroughly decomposed, it assumes 

 an olive green color. Beneath it the decomposed, and lower down the 

 undecomposed, rock is found, called here " iron rock " or " negro head." 

 The level configuration of the surface, and the impervious nature of the 

 subsoil, interfere naturally with drainage ; an interference, however, not 

 at all beyond the remedy of art, as the fall for properly conducted drains 

 and outlets is ample. But because they require drainage, these lands, 

 which, from their general appearance, and from their chemical analysis, 

 should be ranked as among the very best in the State, have received little 

 attention. Corn and cotton planted on them turns yellow, " frenches," as 

 it is termed. When, however, thorough drainage has been effected, and 

 stable manure used, they have j)roved very productive and enduring. 

 Such treatment is exceedingly circumscribed, the demand of the present 

 system of agriculture being for light lands of easy tillage, whose defects 

 of constitution may be at once supplied by the purchase of chemical fer- 

 tilizers for the exigencies of the growing crop, and with no view to per- 

 manent improvement. The " rolling blackjack lands," as might be in- 

 ferred from their name, have a better natural drainage, and have long 

 been highly prized for their productiveness. The following analyses of 

 these soils were made by Dr. Eugene A. Smith, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 

 for the 10th United States Census : 



(IG) (17) 



Insoluble matter 80.340 83.145 



Soluble Silica 9.114 3.585 



Potash 0.135 0.126 



Soda 0.070 0.060 



Lime 0.329 0.389 



Magnesia 0.329 0.251 



Peroxide Manganese 0.210 0.185 



Peroxide of Iron 1.895 3.774 



Alumina 4.701 4.051 



Phosphoric acid 0.060 0.100 



Sulphuric acid 0.150 0.170 



Carbonic acid ... 



Water and organic matter 2.068 4.185 



99.401 100.021 



Hydroscopic moisture . 3.967 8.392 



Absorbed at 82° F. 82° F. 



