328 AGKICULTURAL REPORT. [1715, 716- 



reous incrustations on leaves, sticks, etc., are very common. Nor 

 is even the water obtained in the blue or gray clays, or between 

 the sandstone ledges of the Tertiary, always unobjectionable. Some 

 of the strata of the latter formation, as we have seen (1231, fit".), 

 are also calcareous, and so, of course, is the water derived from, 

 or collected in them. More usually, however — and this is the 

 most objectionable ieature — these waters are magnesian and some- 

 times gypseous, generally with an admixture of common salt (1316 ;) 

 which ingredients render them, of course, unfit for daily use, 

 although they impart to them medicinal properties (1601, if.). The 

 characters just mentioned are almost invaiiably met within the 

 waters derived from the strata of the gritty, semi-indurate, sandy 

 clays, or soft, "rotten sandstone", which generally occur beneath 

 the hard ledges of the " Grand Gulf Sandstone ", and underlie, or 

 form the base of, a large portion of the hilly lands of Claiborne 

 and Jefferson counties. Where these crop out, they may not 

 unfrequently be found covered with incrustations or efflorescences 

 of salt ; while as a general thing, we may expect to find good 

 freestone water wherever the hard sandstones and loose sands 

 prevail. 



715. The nature of the salts I have generally found to be very nearly the 

 same throughout the region in question. The waters contain the Chlorides of 

 Magnesium, Calcium and Sodium, in variable proportions ; the salts of Magne- 

 sium and Sodium being usually predominant. A small amount of sulphates, 

 also, is often present ; yet I have found the chlorides predominant over the 

 sulphates in all the waters I have examined S. of the Bayou Pierre, and E. of 

 the dividing ridge. To the eastward and northward, in the counties of Hinds, 

 Rankin and Simpson, the reverse is commonly the case, the waters, when 

 mineral being impregnated chiefly with Sulphates. It is owing to this difference 

 probably, that the habitual use of the saline well waters of the Southern River 

 Counties does not affect health as injuriously, as is the case with those of the 

 X)ther counties named. 



716. In consequence of the inferior quality of the well waters, 

 so unfrequently met with, cisterns have come into very general use 

 for drinking and cooking in the Cane Hill region ; while for other 

 househould purposes, the water of the wells may be (and is very 

 generally) made available by the addition of some lye, which pre- 

 cipitates the lime and magnesia, so as to allow the water to be 

 combined with soap. A little pearlash, or " sal-soda - ' 7 (not so well 

 the " soda" used in the kitchen, unless the water be boiled), will 

 answer the same purpose. The same remedy will apply in the case 

 of waters simply limy, derived from the calcareous silt ; though 

 in this case, it is generally necessary to let the water boil, before 

 it will take up the soap readily. Boiling alone will accomplish the 

 same end, but requires a longer time. Waters of the latter class, 

 only moderately impregnated with carbonate of lime, cannot be 

 considered as of necessity injurious to health ; though they often 

 are so to those unaccustomed to their use.* 



*For a ready method of distinguishing limy from magnesian waters, and 

 generalities concerning the same, (see i[601 to 605 ' ). 



