SOILS. 193 



origin and nature of the comparatively unmodified subsoil must be 

 studied if we are to arrive at any reliable conclusions as to the per- 

 manent resources of our soils. A considerable proportion of iron 

 exists, as might be expected, from the decomposition of the horn- 

 blende and allied minerals, and gives to the soil a yellowish orange or 

 reddish color. The high color indicates the presence of the sesquiox- 

 ides; and the more or less chalybeate character of the waters demon- 

 strates the existence of the more soluble compounds; while a magnet 

 drawn through the pulverized soil frequently brings forth a bristling 

 edge of magnetite, showing the presence of iron in that form. The 

 surface is frequently strewn with bowlders, chiefly "hard-heads," 

 while cobble stones and pebbles mingle more or less with the soil, 

 though not to an extent that would often justify the term gravelly. 

 The vegetable mold is confined mainly to a few inches at the surface. 



This soil works with more difficulty than the last, but is strong and 

 enduring, and will improve rather than otherwise with use. It be- 

 comes lighter and warmer as it is stirred, and is gradually becoming 

 fitted for crops that did not at first flourish upon it. This is the pre- 

 vailing soil in the heavily timbered regions in the central portions of 

 our district. 



CLASS IY. The Red Marly Clay Soils. The term " red clay " is 

 popularly applied to a very extensive deposit in the northeastern 

 part of the state, and to the soil derived from it. It is very properly 

 denominated a clay, if we use the term in a simply physical sense. It 

 is finely comminuted, close, compact, adhesive and almost impervious. 

 It washes, cracks and otherwise deports itself as a clay. These qual- 

 ities, however, do not reach an excessive development. It never pos- 

 sesses that extreme tenacity when wet, or that obdurate hardness 

 when dry, that characterizes the typical aluminous clay. It contains, 

 moreover, in most localities, fragments of limestone, and occasionally 

 other rock, which modify these qualities. In chemical composition, 

 however, it is not a true clay. Beside the aluminous element, there 

 is a varying proportion of silicious matter, a notable ingredient of 

 carbonate of lime and magnesia, and a very constant intermixture of 

 hematite and magnetite. It is rarely that a magnet drawn through 

 a handful of dust fails to bring forth grains of the latter. In like 

 manner the application of acid to the unleached subsoil seldom fails 

 to give a prompt and vigorous effervescence. The opposite is true, 

 however, of the surface soil. The difference between the two is also 

 usually indicated by physical characteristics. One of the most no- 

 ticeable of these is the intimate fissuring of the upper subsoil when 

 dry, by innumerable little cracks that divide the mass into small rude- 

 Wis. SUR. 13 



