ECONOMIC FEATURES. 141 



upon the people the necessity of recognizing the chalky formations of Texas 

 as a distinct geographic region of the State and the United States. This in- 

 dividuality must be recognized, and the economic development of the region 

 based thereon, instead of the conditions of the entirely different non-chalky 

 regions of the United States from which most of our settlers have come. 

 The agricultural experiences of Massachusetts, Mississippi, or even East 

 Texas, will not apply to these soils, but we must rather go to the chalky 

 regions of France and England, where analogous formations occur, to learn 

 for what they are best adapted. Experiment stations should be located 

 upon these soils and their utility fully determined. 



The Black Prairie region, which is already one of the most prosperous in 

 our State, will greatly increase in value with coming years, as its agricul- 

 tural capacities are more fully appreciated and improved upon. The already 

 rich land now given up to the culture of coarser plantation crops, such as 

 corn and cotton, will ultimately be devoted to more refined agriculture, as 

 the soils are better understood, and a local demand is created for the pro- 

 ducts. With this rural development will continue the growth of its cities, 

 which has been wonderful even in the past decade. It only remains to ascer- 

 tain in a scientific manner the exact capacity and adaptability of these soils, 

 and to improve facilities for transportation and communication. 



