1842,843] ANALYSIS OF MARSH SOIL. 377 



easy, as the firm clay soil forms staunch levees) is easily worked, and produces 

 line vegetables, such as peas, beans, cabbage, etc., but is peculiarly adapted to 

 water-and musk-melons; none of these plants show any disposition to wither, 

 like those planted on Mr. Lewis' soil. — The soil of the small marsh at Pearling- 

 ton is similar to this. I was informed that immediately opposite the latter 

 place, an attempt was made, on a small scale, to grow rice. The crop was very 

 abundant, and of line quality. The (inn soil is reached about 12 inches below 

 the surface ; down to that depth, there is nothing but a tangled maze of grass 

 roots. The marsh grasses, however, die very soon after the soil is drained, and 

 their roots decay rapidly. — The chief growth of this marsh along the banks of 

 the river and its bayous, is a tall rush with a round stem (Scirpus — differing in 

 species, apparently, from the " Jonc rond " of the smaller marshes), 6 to 10 feet 

 high ; with an undergrowth of Arrowhead, Pickerel Weed (Pontederia), and 

 Lizard's Tail (Saururus). The " Cutting-rush'' also occurs, but apparently in 

 the more elevated spots ; and with it the Marsh Milk-weed (Asclepias pawpe- 

 rcula). The only shrub to be seen on the green plain — (extending westward 

 in a dead level, as far as the eye can reach) — is the Myrtle {Myrica Carol inensis) 

 which grows to a hight of 8 to 14 feet ; at intervals, a solitary bush of the Bay 

 (Magnolia glauca) is seen. 



The soil, when left to dry slowly, in a lump, becomes of a stony hardness. 

 Being air-dried, it lost 7.940 per cent, of water at 400 deg. dried at which 

 temperature it consisted of : 



Insoluble Matter 74.150 



Potash 1.003 



Soda 0.379 



Lime 0.182 



Magnesia 1.004 



Brown Oxide of Manganese 0.065 



Peroxide of Iron 3.350 



Alumina 10.643 



Sulphuric Acid 0.858 



Phosphoric Acid 0.188 



Organic Matter and Water 8.390 



100.212 



842. There is not much, in the composition of the last soil, to distinguish it 

 from other heavy, fertile bottom soils. The large amount of Sulphuric Acid, 

 and the rather small amount of Lime for a soil of such resources, constitute 

 the main differences. Potash is present in about the same proportion as in 

 prairie soils ; there is no unusual proportion of either Soda or Magnesia, 

 showing that the salt water exerts little influence over this soil. The supply of 

 Phosphoric Acid is not large, but it is adequate. The supply of vegetable matter 

 is not excessive, as is the case in the Pascagoula soil. 



There are some essential anomalies, however, as to the manner in which some 

 of these ingredients are contained. A qualitative test shows the Sulphuric 

 Acid and Magnesia to be present in the state of Epsom Salt ; the fresh solution 

 also contains some iron ; and the vegetable matter (as usual in soils in which 

 vegetable matter decays in continual contact with water) is in an acid condition 

 (1T406). 



843. It is attributable, no doubt, to the large amount of clay contained in this 

 soil, that these circumstances do not act as injuriously on the growth of crops, 

 as might be apprehended. Still, in taking this soil into cultivation, it will be 

 advisable to remedy these defects by the application of lime, either burnt or in the 

 form of calcareous marl. This will correct the acidity of the soil ; it will 

 decompose the noxious Epsom salt, forming gypsum and common magnesia ; 

 and it will supply the deficiency of the soil, in that important igredient — lime — 



