BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 



93 



The following table gives a comparative view of 

 the constituents of the soil from Hog Creek Marsh, 

 Scioto Marsh, and Big Spring Prairie. 



The analyses were made by Prof. Herbert M. Hill, 

 Chemist, University of Buffalo. 



Soil No. 8 was taken from the Wild Rose Celery 

 Farm, at a depth of about 10 inches. Thus it is evi- 

 dent that the soil from Big Spring Prairie contains 

 most moisture, and that it in not as rich in ammonia 

 and phosphoric acid as the soils from the two preced- 

 ing marshes. Tlie Castalia Prairie differs radically 

 from Big Spring Prairie, Scioto Marsh, and Hog Creek 

 Marsh. The wonderful springs at Castalia with their 

 immense volume of water, heavily charged with lime 

 and other mineral ingredients, have occasioned ex- 

 tensive marl deposits, which are valuable for the 

 manufacture of Portland Cement. The muck or 

 humus over the greater part of this prairie is very shal- 

 low, accordingly, drainage will affect the general level 

 but little. There are some moderately elevated hills to 

 the south ot this prairie, while the northern portion slopes 

 gradually toward Sandusky Bay. According to the state- 

 ments of Mr. W. H. Rowell of Castalia, and other pio- 

 neers of that section, the most common and character- 

 istic plant formerly was Phragmites phragmites (reed.) 

 At present it occurs only at a few isolated localaties, 



