11 



has considerable extent in this State. The Amite river is its western 

 limit, and it is bounded on the east by Pearl river. It embraces the 

 parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Livingston, Washington, St. 

 Tammany and portion* of other parishes. 



I do not wish it to be understood that my geological references 

 have the least authority; I have only touched upon the geological 

 features of the country, in order to enable me to present the subject 

 in a more taugible form, but I did not intend to express a decided 

 opinion on the nature of the geological formations of Louisiana, and 

 any seeming contradictions, if there are any, between this report and 

 that of the geologist, must be decided in favor of the geological 

 report, which alone can be considered as authority in this matter. 



Before dismissing this subject, it is perhaps proper to say that the 

 foregoiug division of the soil of Louisiana refers only to the general 

 nature of the surface in any given region of country, without refer- 

 ence to the exact proportions of its chemical constituents; that the 

 surface soil is always more or less modified by local circumstances, 

 and varied by creeks, bayous, lakes and rivulets, which sometimes 

 impart fertility to the lowlands, when the higher lands are nearly 

 destitute of productive qualities, to render them valuable for tillage 

 Even the second series of the orange sand soils might be improved 

 by the application of lime manure, which is ready at hand in the 

 shell banks of Lake Pontchartrain, Grand Lake and the shell islands 

 in the shallow waters of Barataria Bay; or they might be planted 

 in long leaved pine for the production of turpentine, which flour- 

 ishes and grows to a great height in the fossiliferous gravel sand 

 soil, and which would render the land as valuable almost as that of 

 a cotton and sugar plantation. Timber plantations are very com- 

 mon in England, and companies might be formed, possessing suffi- 

 cient capital, for the purpose of appreciating these lands, by planting 

 them in the turpentine pine, which furnishes a valuable article of 

 commerce, of which the Carolinas have almost the monopoly. 



BOTANICAL ITINERARY. 



EAST AND WEST BATON ROl'GE. 



The botanical survey of the State of Louisiana, in connection 

 with the geological and topographical survey, having been deter- 

 mined upon, I assumed its duties, in accordance with your directions, 



