Atlantic cmd Gulf Coastal Plains Soils. 49 



Peat. — Vegetable matter consisting of roots and fibers, moss, 

 etc. , in various stages of decomposition, occurring as turf or bog, 

 usually in low situations, always more or less saturated with water, 

 representing an advanced stage of swamp with drainage partially 

 established. 



Acres. 



Bigflats, N. Y 576 



Los Angeles, Cal 1, 088 



Acres. 



Santa Ana, Cal 787 



Tazewell County, 111 1,664 



Muck. — Vegetable mold, more or. less thoroughly decomposed 

 and -mixed with earth, from 1 to 3 or more feet deep, occupying 

 low, damp places; May be considered an advanced stage of peat, 

 in which the roots, fiber, and moss characteristic of peat have been 

 so far decomposed as to lose their original structure. When 

 .drained these soils are exceedingly productive and adapted to 

 corn, potatoes, cabbages, onions, celery, peppermint, and similar 



crops. 



Acres. 



Allegan County, Mich 33, 770 



Baker City, Oreg. . . -. 12, 3.52 



Cerro Gordo County, Iowa 12, 096 



Grand Forks, N. Dak 6, .592 



Janesville, Wis 10, 368 



Lyons, X. Y 3, 840 



Acres. 



Madison County, Ind 1, 152 



New Orleans, La 21, 056 



Pontiac, Mich 3,904 



Raleigh to Newbern, N. C 623 



Syracuse, N. Y' 16, 960 



Winnebago County, 111 2, 17(') 



ATLANTIC AND (JLLF COASTAL PLAINS SOILS. 



The Atlantic Coastal Plain, one of the important physiographic 

 provinces of the eastern United States, is represented by a narrow 

 belt bordering the Xew England coast, widening out in New Jer- 

 sey, the line of contact between this and the Piedmont Plateau 

 passing through Trenton, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, 

 Raleigh, Columbia, Augusta, and Savannah, meeting the Gulf 

 Coastal Plain, which extends around to the Mexican Vjoundary 

 line. The surface is that of a more or less dissected plain with 

 large tidal estuaries, particularly in Maryland and Virginia. In 

 these two States the uplands reach an elevation of 200 or 300 feet 

 above tide, while in the more southern localities the elevations 

 rarely exceed the former figure and for the most part are not over 

 60 or 75 feet. Over large areas in North Carolina, South Carolina, 

 and Georgia the mean fall toward the ocean is hardly more than 

 1 foot to the mile. In such level areas drainage is apt to be defi- 



31896—04 i 



