20 



AGRICULTURE 



rock. Other things being equal, " limestone country is rich coun- 

 try." The soil is generally dry, warm, and healthy for stock; 

 and its luxuriant growth of grass especially fits it for stock rais- 

 ing. 



Alkali Lands. Al'ka li soils contain large deposits of mineral 

 salts which check vegetation. They are found in dry regions in 

 the western part of the United States, in Egypt, in India, and in 

 other countries. 



Swamp Soils. Swamp soils, found in what are or have been 

 lowlands, contain a large amount of decaying vegetable matter. 



A SCENE IN THE DISMAL SWAMP 



The great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina has, by 

 continued deposits of vegetable matter, been raised above the sur- 

 face of the surrounding country. 



