240 THE SOILS. OF CECIL COUNTY 



perfectly level condition of the old sea-floor as it must have appeared 

 when it first emerged from the sea. 



The drainage has become established to some extent, and, although 

 there are some small undrained places, the greater part of the larger 

 areas is well drained. Examples of poor drainage on the river necks 

 covered by this formation are shown in the small, circular, pond-like 

 areas, seldom of more than a few acres in extent. In dry weather 

 these places dry up, but during seasons of considerable rainfall they 

 usually contain some water. 



The streams of this formation are usually short and carry a small 

 volume of water, for they drain but small areas. In their lower 

 courses they have a width altogether disproportionate to their drain- 

 age basins. This is supposed to be due to the fact that this section 

 of Maryland is gradually sinking, so that the lower parts of these 

 small streams may be said to be drowned, and consist of broad 

 expanses of wate'r which rise and fall each day with the incoming 

 and outgoing tides. 



The soils of this formation are derived from the weathering of the 

 beds of loam, which are characteristic of certain portions of the 

 Pleistocene. These deposits were laid down in comparatively quiet- 

 waters, and since their deposition have undergone but little change. 

 The uniformity of the soils is evidence of the widely extended con- 

 ditions of deposition over the sea-floor. The soils consist of from 

 8 to 10 inches of light-yellow loam. It is mellow and light, free 

 from stone and gravel, and therefore easy to cultivate, and is under- 

 lain by yellow loam usually heavier in texture than the soil. The 

 subsoils often have a depth of several feet. They are always at 

 least 36 inches in depth, and they generally grade into beds of 

 gravel and sand. 



These soils are fertile and productive, and can be brought to a 

 high state of cultivation. Generally, they are naturally well-drained, 

 but in some of the more level portions of the uplands they are 

 swampy, and would be much benefited by thorough underdrainage. 

 The country around "Warwick, on Sassafras l^eck, is inclined to be 

 swampy, especially in wet seasons. Although these soils are uni- 



