SOUTHERN DISTRICT. 309 



district, they represent very perfectly the composition of the soil of the whole district. 

 We at once observe a great diminution of the quantity of lime and magnesia, and it is 

 highly probable that potash and soda arc also proportionally reduced in amount. Vege- 

 table or organic matter may abound, and yet the oxygenized products are deprived of 

 their bases ; for the soil is deficient in the bases for which these products have an affinity. 

 The next soil of which an analysis was made, was taken eight inches beneath the sur- 

 face, upon the slope near the inclined plane at the village of Ithaca. 



ANALYSIS. 



Water of absorption 1-94 



Organic matter _. 3*62 



Silicates 87-12 



Peroxide of iron and alumina.. 6*28 



Carbonate of lime 0-60 



Magnesia 0-12 



99-68 



This analysis gave a larger amount of lime than is usually obtained from the soils of the 

 district. It is, however, still too small in quantity to support a y/early cropping without a 

 sensible loss of fertility. 



The Hamilton group furnishes a soil which is nearly identical throughout the State. In 

 confirmation of this statement, we subjoin the analyses of a few additional soils, which 

 were evidently derived from this series of rocks. 



Soil from Gainsville. 



ANALYSIS. 



Water and vegetable matter 7 • 60 



Silicates 8 1 -26 



Carbonate of lime 0-12 



Magnesia trace. 



Peroxide of iron and alumina 10*30 



99-28 



This soil contains the greater part of its available lime in combination with a soluble 

 organic acid. Color of the soil dark brown ; and it is easily pulverized, and, in drying, 

 does not become lumpy r , or adhesive when wet. 



Soil from Greene county, near Mr. Stewart's, Greenville. 



Color light yellow or drab : it is full of rounded pebbles and fragments of thin sandstone, 

 accompanied with the fossils of the Hamilton group. 



