276 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [1570, 571, 572 



Smaller tracts of a similar character, however, occur more or less, over the 

 whole Flatwoods belt. 



570. It is singular that, while these two extreme soils are so often found 

 contiguous to, and overlying each other, intermixtures, which might form soils 

 of commendable physical properties at least, are but rarely met with. Thus, in 

 passing from Cherry Hill to Houston, we find the light soil prevailing almost 

 altogether, up to about three miles W. N. W. of Houston, where we find, on 

 S. 34, T. 13, R. 2 E , and thence onward for some distance, a low ridge or tract 

 of land, timbered almost exclusively with scrubby Black Jack, the soil of which, 

 destitute of every blade of grass or other undergrowth, appears to be immedi- 

 ately suited to the potter's lathe. Strips or " ridges " of this kind are not 

 unfrequently met with in the Flatwoods both of Chickasaw and Pontotoc coun- 

 ties. It is only in the bottom soils of the Flatwoods tract that we find the two 

 soils commingled in such proportions as to form a soil of excellent quality, 

 both physical and chemical. 



571. Composition of the Flatwoods Soils. — Two specimens of soil from 

 the Flatwoods region, representing the two extremes above described, have thus 

 far been analyzed. 



No. 230. Heavy Flatwoods Soil from S. 4, T. 10, R. 2 E., Pontotoc county: 



Depth : No perceptible difference between soil and subsoil ; specimen taken 

 down to twelve inches. 



Vegetation : Post Oak, Short-leaf Pine ; some little Spanish (" Bed ") Oak, and 

 occasionally a little Hickory. 



The soil saturated with moisture at 72.5 deg. Fahr., lost 9.333 per cent, of 

 water at 400 deg. Fahr. Dried at this temperature, it consisted of : 



Insoluble Matter 77.854 



Potash 0.753 



Soda 0.106 



Lime 0.178 



Magnesia 0.831 



Brown Oxide of Manganese 0.167 



Peroxide of Iron 5.899 



Alumina 10.302 



Phosphoric Acid 0.052 



Sulphuric Acid 0.032 



Organic Matter and Water 3.689 



99.841 



572. No. 165. Light Flatwoods Soil, from S. 36, T. 13, R. 2 E., Chickasaw 

 county : 



Depth : No perceptible difference between soil and subsoil. Specimen taken 

 to the depth of twelve inches. 



Vegetation : Almost exclusively Post Oak ; very little Spanish (" Bed ") Oak ; 

 Huckleberry bushes in the depressions. 



A pale gray, powdery soil, mostly fine siliceous matter, with little clay. Its 

 mass is full of ferruginous dots, which increase downwards. 



The air-dried soil lost 2.050 per cent, of water at 400 deg. ; at which 

 temperature it consisted of : 



