358 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [Ii'785, 786, 787 



785. The bottom and second bottom of Okahay* in S. Smith, though narrow 

 (rarely much exceeding % mile) is very fertile, its soil differing considerably 

 from that of Okatoma — though light, and with occasional white ''crawfishy " 

 spots, it is generally of a full brownish gray tint, and bears a heavy growth of 

 White and Chestnut White Oak, with Beech, Hickory, Sweet Gum, Water 

 Oak, Magnolia, etc. The soil is evidently influenced as yet by tbe prairie region 

 in which the stream heads (U738) ; and the same is true of Leaf River bottom 

 near, and above Taylorsville. which possesses a growth similar to that of the 

 Okahay, just mentioned ; being from x /> to % mile in width. These bottoms 

 are, of course, subject to overflow, but the lightness of their soil prevents this 

 from forming a serious obstacle to their cultivation. The " white soils" of the 

 bottom are considered as being the best adapted to cotton. 



The hommock of Leaf River, however, is far inferior in fertility to the first 

 bottom. Near Kees' bridge, (S. 8, T. 1, R. 9 E.), it is elevated 3 to 4 feet above 

 the latter, all on the VV. side of the bottom, 1 to \}{± mile wide, perfectly level, 

 and timbered almost exclusively with Long-leaf Pine and Hickory ; its gray 

 and somewhat ashy soil, (which does not change much down to 18 inches), 

 yields fair crops for a few years, but then gives out entirely. It approaches in 

 character ta that of the hommock of the Chickasawhay and Pascagoula in 

 Greene and Jackson counties (see below, and 1T804, ff.), and resembles them 

 even in that the Gallberry (Prinos gluber), appears in dense patches in its low 

 spots. It seems that on lower Leaf River, this flat or hommock gradually 

 closes in upon the stream on both sides, as is the case with the Chickasawhay. 



786. 01" the counties ol Jones and Perry, and the adjoining 

 portions of Covington, Greene, and Marion, I know but little 

 from personal observation — so far as I have seen, and according 

 to all accounts I have received, the same general features as just 

 recorded of Simpson and S. Smith — viz : the " Piny Woods " — 

 prevail there also. 



787. The soils of S. Wayne county, outside of the hommock of 

 the Chickasawhay, resemble in general those of S. Smith ; on the 

 whole, perhaps, they contain rather more coarse sand, and the 

 country is more level, sloping down gradually into the Chickasaw- 

 hay hommock. 



The only fertile spots in these level lands are the wet " ponds ", overgrown 

 with the Sweet Bay (Magnolia glauca) Calico Bush (Ealmia latifojia) Black 

 Haw (Viburnum — cassinoides, and others) and shrubs of the Whortleberry 

 tribe ( Vaccinium, Leucothoe, etc.). These patches, however, are very small, 

 and very wet. 



The hommock proper of the Chickasawhay, above the mouth of the Bucka- 

 tunna, is moderately fertile, and possesses a subsoil rendering it capable of good 

 improvement; sometimes (as at Col. Sam. Powes', S. of Winchester, it is very 

 sandy, so as to resemble and assume the growth of the soils of the Tallahoma 

 ridges (1[647, ff.). I have been informed also, that on the dividing ridge between 

 the two streams, there are upland soils of rather a clayey character, and pro- 

 ducing good crops They are, perhaps, similar to those observed further S., to 

 the eastward of Cross Roads P. 0. (1J807) — The soil of Buckatunna bottom, 

 near the R. R. bridge, is quite heavy, of a brownish-buff color for about ten 

 inches ; then becomes heavier, and of a paler tint. It is timbered with Sweet 

 Gum and Short-leaf Pine. 



The soil of the second bottom, elevated 2 to 3 feet above the first and quite 

 extensive, is similar, somewhat lighter, with an admixture of Oaks and Elm to 



*This stream is often, for brevity's sake, termed "Cohay " by the inhabitants 

 — which name seems properly, however, to belong only to a western branch. 



