372 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [ e 831 



liable Matter (flue sand) 



ish i! 



Soda 



Lime ' 



nesia ! 



•. n < )xide of Manganese , . ' 



Peroxide of Iron 



tnina 



phoric Acid 0.1 »2 1 



Sulphuric Acid tr: 



! nic Matter and Water 2.277 



829. T1k :.■ poor; no grain crop could be 

 ■grown on land like this, without stable-manure or its equivalent. But the 



r portion of any such manure would be thrown away on a soil so extremely 

 sandy, and baying a subsoil of iloating sands. 



At least, this land can be of use only as pasture; and the question arises, 

 whether its present growth of sour grasses might not, with little expense, be 

 '1 into one of sweet grass. 



The brown colors of the waters draining from these lands, proves that the 

 soil is in an acid condition (1T40G); the remedy for this property, as has been 

 stated (Agricultural Report, General Part "ft 539, ff.) is lime or ashes. The former 

 substance would probably be most available, and in the present instance, it 

 would be best to use it in the freshly burnt state, and to sow it broadcast on 

 the surface, during a moderately wet season. 



Ashes have been mentioned as an alternative, for the same purpose. The 

 effect of their application in the present instance, is well illustrated by the fact, 

 which is very apparent even to a superficial observer, that wherever the dead 

 grass has been burnt oft* (and consequently its ashes given to the soil), the Cord- 

 rush and Xyris have almost disappeared, while a soft, appetizing growth of good 

 grass now covers the ground. The effect of lime would probably be similar, 

 and more lasting. 



830. Along the water courses, where the soil is heavier (sometimes, 

 probably, derived immediately from the potter's clays which underlie these 

 glades), and more productive, the application of lime as a corrective for the 

 sources of the soil, might enable the settler to raise a part at least of the vegeta- 

 ble necessaries of life. In dry seasons, the last mentioned soils crack open 

 and become very hard, not so much from any clay they may contain, as on 

 account of the sour, gelatinous condition of their vegetable matter. This also, 

 would, to a great extent, be corrected by the application of lime. It is said that 

 the raising of stock by pasturing in these regions, is a business somewhat 

 uncertain, on account of the variabdity of the winters ; which sometimes, when 

 mild, allow the cattle plenty of pasturage through the year, but when severe, 

 by killing the grass, will starve out the stock, which cannot, of course, be profit- 

 ably supported on bought corn or hay. — At present, the making of hay on these 

 meadows would scarcely be practicable ; but it could undoubtedly be done in 

 many of the burnt spots which I have seen ; and thus the application of lime 

 might enable the stock raiser to make hay enough for the support of his cattle 

 during winter, in case of need. 



831. As we approach within about a mile of the beach, the 

 Pine timber rapidly improves in quality : the same is the case 

 within about half* a mile of Paseagoula river. The trees are 

 stouter, but not very tall ; and mixed with the Long-leaf pine 

 there appears another species of pine, common all along the coast, 

 and forming almost exclusively the larger timber of the Islands of 



