16 TEXAS STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



principal series, the Norfolk and the Susquehanna, The Norfolk types, 

 of which there are two., have fine sand and fine sandy loam soils under- 

 lain by yellow sandy clay. These soils are especially adapted to peaches 

 and truck crops. They also include good crops of cotton and corn. 

 The Susquehanna series includes three types, which have gray or red- 

 dish gravelly soils and red and gray mottled clay subsoils. 



The black alluvial soil along Sulphur river is called Trinity clay, 

 and the gray to brown types on White Oak creek are classed with 

 the Sanders series. None of these soils have much agricultural value 

 on account of the frequent overflows to which they are subject. 



The Meadow bordering all the smaller streams is cultivated in many 

 places. It is not a definite type but consists of soils of all textures, 

 from sands to heavy clays. Portions of it are especially adapted to 

 ribbon cane, and corn produces well on some of the bottoms. 



All the upland soils of the area are productive and the sandy soils 

 are remarkably lasting. Up to the present time their fertility has been 

 so well maintained that the farmers have not found it necessary to 

 use commercial fertilizers. With careful management and wise crop 

 rotations this should never be necessary except possibly for special crops. 



The changes that will be beneficial to the farmers of the county, 

 briefly stated, are (1) a diversification of crops which will enable the 

 farmer to raise his home supplies and to have, besides cotton, a sur- 

 plus of other crops to sell, and (2) a closer co-operation among the 

 fruit and truck growers in -order to establish standard grades of pro- 

 duce and to ship to the best markets in carload lots. 



SOIL SURVEY OF THE COOPER AREA, TEXAS, MADE IN 1907. 



SUMMARY. 



The Cooper area (400,256 acres, or 625.4 square miles) comprises 

 the southern part of Lamar county, which has the north fork of Sul- 

 phur creek for its southern boundary, and all of Delta county, which 

 'is triangular in shape, lying directly south of Lamar and between the 

 -north and south forks of Sulphur creek. 



The area is high, rolling plateau broken by valleys of North Sul- 

 phur and South Sulphur creeks and their small tributaries. All the 

 larger streams have low flood plains varying from one-fourth to three 

 miles in width and subject to overflow. 



This part of Texas was settled early and the people are of Ameri- 

 can stock. The prairie portion of the area is thickly settled and many 

 flourishing towns have sprung up. The area approaches within a few 

 miles of Paris, a railroad center and the principal city in this part of 

 'Texas. Two railroads pass through the western part of the area, but 

 the eastern side lacks railroad facilities. Cotton is the principal ex- 

 port crop and facilities are ample for ginning and marketing. 



The climate of the area is mild during the greater part of the year, 

 the only disagreeable feature being the sudden cold waves Or "north- 

 ers" in the winter months and occasional wind storms. A long grow- 

 ing season occurs between the last killing frost in the spring and the 

 'first killing frost in the fall, the average dates bein^ March 26 and 



