14 TEXAS STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUKE. 



for farming. Elevations range from 150 feet to 150 feet above sea 

 level. The county is drained by the tributaries of the Sabine and 

 .Red Rivers. Drainage over the greater portion of the county is ade- 

 quate in average seasons, but varies from excessive to insufficient in 

 certain sections, depending upon seasonal conditions. 



The climate is mild and the growing season about eight months in 

 length. Farm work may be carried on during every month in the 

 year. The precipitation is usually ample and well distributed. 



Between 30 and 35 per cent of the county is cleared. The remain- 

 der supports a forest growth consisting of pine and oak; hickory, gum, 

 and other hardwoods. There are very few merchantable trees on the 

 uplands, but some of the bottom lands have a valuable growth of hard- 

 woods. Native grasses are abundant where the forests are not too 

 dense. 



The Texas & Pacific, Marshall & East Texas, Missouri, Kansas & 

 Texas, and the Texas & Gulf Railways have a total mileage of over 

 131 miles within the county. These railroads furnish good shipping 

 facilities in all directions. Marshall, the county seat, is a thriving 

 city of 11,452 inhabitants and is the largest market and shipping point 

 of the county. Hallsville, Harleton, Waskom, Elysian Fields and 

 Scottsville are other local shipping points of the county. 



The county is well supplied with schools, churches, rural mail routes, 

 and telephone lines. 



The average price of farming land lies probably between $10 and 

 $12 an acre, with a range from $5 to $25. About 48 per cent of the 

 farms are operated by the owners. The average sized far^m is 95 acres, 

 classing each tenancy as a farm. There are a number of large hold- 

 ings, especially in the eastern half of the county. 



Five-sixths of the cultivated land is devoted to the production* of 

 cotton and corn. Peanuts, ribbon cane, potatoes, peaches, cowpeas, 

 forage, and truck crops are also grown. The more progressive farm- 

 ers are now beginning to diversify their crops and to practice rotation. 

 Comparatively little improved farm machinery is used. 



The soils of the uplands of the county belong to the Coastal Plain? 

 Province and have, been derived from the weathering of sand and clay 

 strata of the Eocene age. The lowlands represent reworked material from 

 this and other counties of the State. Including Meadow, twenty-three 

 types have been mapped. 



These fall naturally into two divisions, first the sedimentary or up- 

 land soils, including the Susquehanna series with five'types, the Orange- 

 burg series with four types, the Norfolk with two types, the Ruston 

 series with two types, the Caddo and Lufldn series with one type 

 each; second, the alluvial or lowland soils, including the Sanders series 

 with three types, the Kalmia series with three types, the Trinity series 

 with one type, and Meadow. 



The upland soils are fairly productive and easily cultivated. In 

 general they are adapted to staple rather than to special crops, al- 

 though peanuts, peaches, melons, truck, and other crops give good re- 

 sults on well-drained portions. The lowland soils are productive, but 

 as a rule are poorly drained and subject to overflow. Thev arc adapted 



