302 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [T645, 646, 647 



It is important to observe, that the red clay sometimes forms the subsoil, 

 where the pale yellow loam (see above, 1[643), only appears on the surface. In 

 this case, there is a corresponding improvement in the timber of the yellow loam, 

 which is less disposed to be scrubby, and to which according to circumstances, 

 the Hickory, Black and White Oak are added. Of course, deep plowing in such 

 soils is to be highly recommended. Moreover, the red soil itself occupies the 

 surface in patches and belts in X. W. Winston — as for instance, near New 

 Prospect, on Mr. Coleman's land, S. of the Yockanookana, where a strip about 

 5 miles long by 1 wide, extends along the edge of the bottom. The main body 

 of these red lands, however, is in the " Noxubee Hills ", in X. E. Winston and 

 S. W. Ocktibbeha. 



The country it occupies is considerably broken, and the hillsides are steep : 

 on them, as well as in the gullies, the "Poplar" and Ash occur. Occasionally, 

 on higher ridges, we find sandy soils, ferruginous sandstone, etc., with scrubby 

 Black Jack and Post Oak ; but mainly, the red soil prevails, and whenever a 

 space is afforded, settlements and plantations show the good estimation in which 

 the land is held. — This soil appears about 3 miles E. of Louisville, and extends 

 S. as far as the Winstonville neighborhood, on Allison's Kidge. 



645. I have not myself examined the S. W. portion of Winston, but it is said 

 to resemble the southeastern, which I have traversed on the Louisville and 

 Surumerville road. The neighborhood of Louisville is but slightly undulating, and 

 the same features, with the pale yellow subsoil containing " black pebbles ", and 

 a somewhat scrubby growth as before described (IT 643), continue for several 

 miles on the Summerville road. Gradually, however, the soil deteriorates as we 

 advance, and about 5 miles from the town, we see regular " Pine Hills " resem- 

 bling those of Simpson and S. Smith, in all but the species of the Pine, which 

 is the Short-leaf. To the depth of 8 to 10 inches it is of a very pale yellowish 

 buff tint, and almost ashy — lower down, it gradually changes into the pale 

 yellow loam with bog-ore pebbles (H387). Probably the soil of the lower 

 ridges is better than this of the main dividing ridge, which continues with little 

 change to within a few miles of the crossing of the Nanna Wauya, where we 

 find several narrow branch bottoms timbered with White Oak and Sweet Gum ; 

 the uplands between these are of a yellow loam rather more sandy than that of 

 the Louisville neighborhood. The Bottom soil of the Nanna Wauya, also, like 

 that of most of the tributaries of Pearl Eiver, has quite a light, sandy soil ; of 

 a dark chocolate tint for 12 inches, then paler and still more sandy. This soil 

 produces finely and is timbered with White and Chestnut White Oak, Sweet and 

 Black Gum, Hickory and some little Wild Plum. 



646. The lands E. of the Nanna Wauya though in general 

 resembling the pale yellow loam lands of Winston, are better and 

 keep improving as we advance towards Summerville. as is shown 

 by the improvement of the timber ; they become more and more 

 sandy, and the " black pebbles " less frequent, until, near Summer- 

 ville, the soil has totally changed its character. 



The country is undulating, but with long slopes, well settled and fertile, 

 notwithstanding that its soil is extremely sandy ; of a brownish gray tint for 

 about 8 inches, then deep orange-red, indurate, coarse sand down to 24 inches, 

 and more. Still lower down, we find loose white and yellow sands. The 

 timber consists of sturdy Post Oak, (sometimes with "runners") large high- 

 trunked Black Jack, large upland Hickories ; occasionally, some Black Oak, and 

 on the sandiest points of the ridges, the Upland Willow Oak, (Q. cinerea). 

 This soil is quite productive, "wears well", and docs not suffer from drouth 

 as severely as might be supposed, in consequence, no doubt, of its deep indurate 

 subsoil, whose ferrugino-aluminous cement, between the coarse sand grains, is 

 quite retentive of moisture and manures. 



647. The sandy soil of the Gholson or Summerville Eidge (which skirts the 



