22 



NORTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



ject soils of this character to a strict analysis, for reasons 

 which will be stated in the sequel. 



In my journey to Hyde my principal objects were to select 

 the standard soils for analysis, and to investigate upon the 

 ground, the peculiar conditions which seemed to favor the 

 production of indian corn ; for of all crops this seems to be 

 the one to which the soils are specifically fitted. 



In accomplishing the objects of my visit I was ably secon- 

 ded by Dr. Long, of Lake Landing, who has become the 

 owner of a tract which has borne this crop for one hundred 

 years without manures. It does not seem to have deteriorated 

 by this long cultivation ; or the crops do not show a percepti- 

 ble falling off; still there has been a large consumption of 

 materials during the one hundred years of cultivation which 

 may be made to appear by analysis. The great supply of 

 nutriment, however, still holds out, and the one hundred years 

 to come, if subjected to no greater drains upon its magazine 

 of food, will, at such a distant period, continue to produce its 

 ten or twelve barrels of corn to the acre. 



CHAPTER II. 



,v v j 



The best soil of Dr. Long, of Hyde county its composition its common 

 yield per acre of corn. Mr. Burrough's soil of the north side of Matta- 

 muskeet Lake. Amount of inorganic matter which a crop of corn re- 

 moves from the soil. Each organ to be furnished with appropriate nu- 

 triment. Maize an exhausting crop. Soils from the plantation of Gen. 

 Blount, Beaufort county. Gen. Blount's letter, etc. 



15. The soil which Dr. Long regarded as his best, and 

 which had been under cultivation only three years, I shall 

 now speak of, and state its composition, and present it as rep- 

 resenting very nearly the original condition of the best soil 

 of the county. It is rather light and loose, of a black color 



