326 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [1709, 710, 711 



should not vie in this respect at least, with the vine-clad banks of 

 the Rhine. 



709. Bottom Soils of the Southern River Counties — None of 

 these have as yet been analyzed, wherefore a few generalities with 

 reference to them must suffice for the present. 



In the Cane Hill region proper, i. e., where the calcareous silt 

 forms the main body of the hills especially, the valleys of the 

 smaller streams, as before observed, are generally narrow, and the 

 hillsides steep wherever they are formed chiefly by the silt; 

 whereas slopes more gradual are formed wherever the brown loam 

 is of considerable thickness on the upland, and therefore forms the 

 talus of the ridges. These valleys do not generally possess the 

 character of bottoms proper, but rather of what, in the interior, is 

 called hommock or second bottom (1342, ff.). Their surface is 

 generally even and but little cut up with slough; the main channel 

 being usually so deep that overflows of the valley are much less 

 common than is the case, in other portions of the State. 



Such is the case with those streams which head within the Cane 

 Hill Region itself. The soil of their valleys, being a mixture in 

 varying proportions, of the brown loam and the calcareous silt 

 stratum, is always light and warm, and very productive when 

 cultivated. The bodies of land formed by them, however, are 

 generally so small, and often so much cut off from convenient com- 

 munication with the uplands by the steepness of the hillsides, that 

 they are not nearly as generally in cultivation as their quality, 

 when compared with the uplands, would justify ; being very com- 

 monly turned out as pastures. 



710. The larger streams, which head inland of the Cane Hill region, in the 

 sandy uplands of the dividing ridge, possess, of course, a character different 

 from that just described. The valleys of the Homochitto, Bayou Pierre, Cole's 

 Creek, etc., possess a true bottom character and growth, for some distance after 

 entering upon the Cane Hill region ; yet for the last eight or twelve miles of 

 their course these streams also assume more or less, on the large scale, the 

 same character as the small streams which head within the Cane Hills. In this 

 latter portion of their course, the soil of their bottom or hommock is less sandy 

 than further above, and the Black Walnut, Sycamore, and Honey Locust become 

 very prominent — all three indicative of the presence of a large supply of lime, 

 and of a productive soil. Corn appears to thrive unusually well on these soils. 



711. Higher up, the bottom soils generally become more sandy, 

 and the Oaks, Beech, Hornbeam and Magnolia predominate; 

 the latter tree, especially, attaining enormous dimensions. These 

 sandy bottom soils are generally of considerable depth, of a dark 

 color, and peculiarly adapted to the culture of cotton. 



Thus, in the bottom of the Middle Fork of Homochitto (Franklin county), 

 which is heavily timbered with Magnolia and Beech, together with the Chestnut 

 White Oak, Sweet Gum, " Poplar ", Maple, etc., there is scarcely any percepti- 

 ble change in the aspect of the soil at a depth of more than thirty inches ; and 

 it is esteemed as being the best cotton land in that portion of the State. 

 Notwithstanding their great sandiness, these soils wear very well ; in conse- 

 quence, no doubt, of the great depth to which the roots of the crops can, with 

 facility, penetrate, without even the aid of the subsoil plow. Deep plowing is 



