316 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [1683, 681 \ 684 2 



streams as have their origin within this belt, are characterized by 

 their deep, narrow channels with almost vertical banks, winding 

 their tortuous course, in narrow valleys, from one steep slope to 

 the other. The same is commonly the case with the larger streams, 

 in the last few miles above their mouths ; but those which rise in 

 the sandy hills east of the belt mentioned, preserve their character, 

 as above described, for some distance after entering the " Cane 

 Hills" of the Bluff formation. 



683. The latter, as a general thing, appear to be higher and more abrupt, the 

 nearer we approach the Mississippi River ; arising partly, no doubt, from the 

 natural fall of the valleys, though this does not appear sufficient to account for 

 the difference observed. 



In some regions (as in X. E. Jefferson and S. E. Claiborne counties) there 

 intervenes between the abrupt "Cane Hills " and the Pine and Oak hills inland, 

 a gently undulating tract of brown loam uplands, up to ten miles in width,, 

 forming fine agricultural regions, which pass gradually into the Pine Hills. N. 

 of the Bayou Pierre, between Willow Spring and Pocky Spring, however, the 

 Pine Hills themselves closely adjoin the "Cane Hills". Further N. yet, in 

 Hinds county, near the Vicksburg and Jackson R. R., we again find a fertile, 

 gently undulating loam region, bordering on the east the calcareous hills of the 

 Bluff formation. 



In Franklin county, the hilly and broken, but otherwise fertile, yellow loam 

 region of the Hamburg, and Ilomochitto Hills, on Wells' Creek and other tribu- 

 taries of the Ilomochitto, intervene between the " Cane Hills " of Adams county 

 and the Pine Hills of the interior (IT 770, ffi). It is to be observed, that near to 

 the channels of the larger streams, the lands of the " cane hill " character 

 generally extend somewhat further inland, than is the case in the intermediate 

 regions. 



684 1 . ./?. Soils of the Southern River Counties. — Character 

 and Composition. — It has been stated above (H675 ; see also I348 r 

 General Part), that the upland soils of the Cane Hill Region, as 

 far as observed, are reducible essentially to two different kinds, and 

 their intermixtures, to-wit : 1st. Those derived from the stratum 

 of brown, clayey loam (1T332), which usually covers the surface (to 

 the depth of from eight to ten feet), of the level or gently undula- 

 ting uplands, bearing a growth consisting prevalently of Oaks 

 [White, Chestnut White, Black and some Spanish (" Red ")], Beech r 

 Hickory, Sweet and Black Gum, mingled with more or less Holly, 

 Linn or Basswood, Sassafras, Elm, Hornbeam and some Magnolia. 



684 2 . 2nd. Those derived from the light calcareous loam silt 

 (1327), which forms the main body of the hills ; is commonly exposed 

 on the upper portion of the hillsides; forms by itself alone most 

 of the sharp and narrow ridges and summits ; and not unfrequently 

 inclined uplands. 



It is distinguished from the loam first mentioned, by its buff or dun color ; 

 by its lightness, a lump of it being easily crushed between the fingers at all 

 times ; by the lumps and concretions of lime (carbonate) which it contains, as 

 well as shells of the common snail, and allied species (1J330 1 ); all of which 

 appear in the shape of white specks, whenever a smooth cut is made in the mass, 

 and cause it to effervesce ("boil") when dropped in strong vinegar, or other acid. 

 It forms the permanent vertical sides of the road cuts and bluffs (IT 677, ff), 

 often covered over with short green moss, in consequence of the resistance of 



