HGG2, 663 1 , (563-] bottom soils of pearl river. 309« 



662. The bottom soils of the waters of Pearl River, outside of 

 the Prairie Region, are characterized almost throughout, by very 

 light soils, the sand contained in them being mostly line, often so 

 as to render them almost ashy. Pearl River itself, in the greater 

 portion of its course, has a first bottom comparatively narrow, and 

 often entirely absent, whilst the hommock or second bottom land? 

 are very extensive — often 3 miles in width — and not generally 

 very fertile. The tendency to form high sandy hoinmocks is also 

 manifested very generally on its tributaries. 



From Madison county, to N. Hancock, where I have examined the Pearl 

 Kiver flat or hommock in numerous points, there is considerable uniformity 

 both in the aspect of its soil and its timber — all variations, as it were, of the 

 same theme. The surface soils are very generally of a pale tint, and do not 

 often contain much vegetable matter ; they are mostly light, and without coarse 

 sand. The subsoil varies from a pale yellow, moderately light loam, to a pale 

 ashy sand with very little clay ; and fertility seems to vary precisely in 

 accordance with these changes, which frequently occur in belts of from a half 

 to three miles width, running parallel to the tributaries and therefore, more or 

 less, at right angles with the main stream. The Post, Water and Willow Oaks, 

 and the Bottom Pine are, so to speak, the Key-note of the timber. Where the 

 Pine is very prevalent, and the Oaks disposed to be scrubby, we find the pale 

 ashy soil and subsoil above referred to, and the land is poor ; where the yellow 

 loam forms the subsoil, the Pine is scarce or wanting, the Oaks are tall and 

 stout, and the Spanish (" Bed "), as well as sometimes, the Black, and Scarlet 

 ("Spanish") Oak mixes with them, as well as the Sweet Gum, Hickory, 

 (upland) ; and sometimes, in the southern portion, the Magnolia. Near to the 

 river bank, the Beech also is seen. [For further particulars concerning this 

 portion of Pearl River, see (U773, ff ; 777, ff.].) 



663 1 Above Jackson, to the mouth of the Yockanookana (where the flat is- 

 mostly on the left (E.) side of the river, the soil seems to be pretty generally 

 considered inferior ; below, down to Columbia, it is more frequently of good or 

 average fertility, and at some points (Georgetown, Talley's Ferry, Rockport, 

 Monticello) very productive. — None of the soils of the Pearl River Hommock 

 have as yet been analyzed ; but the almost entire absence of trees preferring 

 even a moderately calcareous soil, seems to indicate that the use of the Pearl 

 River marls would be particularly advantageous to them. 



6632 The white hommock soil of the Yockanookana, in S. Attala and N. W. 

 Leake, has already been mentioned (H638). The bottom soil proper is very 

 similar — on the whole, perhaps, less "ashy" than the hommock soil, and from 

 all appearance by no means deserving of the almost total neglect with which it 

 has hitherto been treated ; for it bears a fine, heavy growth of timber — a great 

 deal of Hickory (both Pig-nut and Shell-bark), Elm, Sweet and Black Gum, 

 Chestnut, White, Water and Willow Oak, and some Bottom Pine ; with fine 

 Cypress in the sloughs. Near the river banks, and on belts or " ridges ", where 

 the soil is very sandy and open, the Beech prevails largely. It has hardly yet 

 been fairly tested in cultivation, Col. J. T. Donald, of Thomastown, being the 

 only one who, to my knowledge, has attempted to cultivate it to any extent, 

 and thus far with very satisfactory results. It is, of course, tilled very easily, 

 and although frequently overflowed, its lightness and permeability greatly 

 diminish the risk of injury to the crops from this cause. As in all the 

 " white " soils, the subsoil, at a certain depth, contains a large amount of bog- 

 ore pebbles.— Of the bottom soils of the Pearl River waters in Neshoba aud E. 

 Leake, I know nothing personally ; they have been described to me, however, 

 as being similar in general, to those of the Yockanookana and other Pearl River 

 waters further S. ; which, from the general resemblance of the surface of the 

 «ountry, seems very probable. 



