CiiAr. VI.] 



SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS AND SOILS. 



139 



different beds of the metamorpliic scries suddenly come upon nearly level 

 ground near the edge of the alluvium. 



The ^Yhite soil occurs in many places all over the country, but the 

 spreads are very rarely of sufficient extent to be worthy of notice. 



Most of the streams show that their waters hold alkaline salts in 

 solution by depositing a white efilorescene on their banks Ijy evaporation. 

 Further on (see chap, on Economic Geology) a description is given of 

 the method adopted by the natives to obtain the salts contained in 

 these white soils. 



As might be expected from the very trifling amount of limestona 

 occurring within the country we are dealing with, 

 true marls -are almost unknown, unless some of the 

 kunkury varieties of Cotton-soil be regarded as such. If this be done, 

 they are not uncommon in the regur-covered districts before enumerated. 



Rarity of marls. 



Note. — As illustrative of the great variation in the composition of 'regur' or cotton- 

 soil generally (see p. 133), I give below the results of analyses of several specimens 

 from different points in the Nerbudda valley districts, all taken from localities well known 

 as good and richly productive Cotton-soils. 



Of the seven analyses here given, the first two, numbered respectively Al, A2, 

 represent the surface soil and sub-soils taken from the same locality, Al being the sur- 

 face, A2 from 5 feet below surface. The tv/o marked Bl, B2 are in like manner the 

 soil and sub-soil (3 feet deep) fi-om one locality, while C, D, and E are the soils taken from 

 only a few inches below the surface. Bl is considered the best quality of soil. 





A. 



E 





™ 















C 



D. 



E. 





1 



2 



1 



2 





Insoluble ... 



62-7 



47-61 



62-8 



63-7 



G8-61 



57-91 



61-80 



Organic matter 



9-2 



8-4 



9-0 



8-7 



7-2 



8-7 



7-65 



Water 



8-4 



7-6 



8-2 



6-5 



9 4 



9-9 



7-35 



Oxide of Iron 



11-0 



15-9 



10-9 



11-4 



G-76 



4-3fi 



5-7 



„ Alumina 



7-5 



8-6 



7-6 



8-4 



5-81 



8-75 



7-67 



Carbonate of Lime ... 



1-2 



11-89 



1-5 



13 



1-57 



9-28 



8-53 



* 



The residue in all consisted chiefly of Magnesia and Alkali ; in Al, Bl, and B2, 

 there were traces of Sulphm-ic Acid. 



A and B were from near Seoni, C from Indore, D from Burwani, and E from 

 Boorhampore. 



The analyses were made by Mr. A. TAveen iu the Laboratory of the Geological Museum, 

 Calcutta. — T. Oiduam. 



( -361 ) 



