DKAINAGE OF WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 



13 



This tract was a part of the grass-covered prairie which contained a number 

 of scattering groves of small willows. It had been cleared and drained for about 

 five years. Its elevation above mean tide level is about 1 foot. The top soil is 

 a layer of almost pure silt which had been laid down on a layer of muck at a 

 comparatively recent date. The layer of silt varies from 6 to 10 inches and the 

 layer of vegetation is perhaps 12 inches in depth. Below this turf is a deposit 

 of pure silt extending to a great depth. The turf or muck in this tract is per- 

 haps older than that of area No. 3; it seems to have been formed from the 

 same kind of vegetation but it is heavier and much darker than that of the 

 latter district. This is probably due to the weight of the layer of silt which 

 had been deposited on it. The ground had been cultivated in 1910 and the part 

 moved by cultivation was quite hard and dry; however, this cultivation did 

 not reach below the layer of silt, into the muck. The first four samples were 

 taken from the layer of muck, while the next four were taken from the silt 

 overlying the muck. The object of testing both layers of soil was to get an 

 idea of the combined water capacity of the two varieties, for many of the 

 plantations have a mixed soil much like that of area No. 2. 



The samples recorded in the following table were taken in Bayou La Fourche 

 sandy loam near Lockport and about one-fourth mile back from the bayou. 



Results of soil tests near Lockport, La. 



No. of sample. 



Depth 

 of 



sample. 



Number 



of days 



since 



rain. 



Weight per cubic 

 foot. 



Water in 

 soil by 

 volume. 



Depth 



of 

 water 

 table. 





As taken. 



Dry,. 



Sandy loam: 



36 



Inches. 

 3- 8 

 3- 8 

 6-11 

 6-11 



14 

 14 

 14 

 14 



Pounds. 

 105.9 

 105.4 

 105.9 

 105.4 



Pounds. 

 81.2 

 80.6 

 75.4 

 78.1 



Per cent. 

 39.5 

 39.7 

 48.8 

 43.7 



Inches. 

 40 



37 . 



40 



38 



40 



39 



40 







The soil in this tract is representative of the average soil conditions in the 

 bayou-front plantations. It is also of much the same nature as the ridges of 

 silt that occur in many of the turf or muck lands. The soil has been cultivated 

 for a great many years and little vegetable matter was present. It had already 

 been cultivated in 1910 when the samples were taken. The ground was quite 

 moist to the touch, but was perhaps a little drier than usual. The soil was 

 much the same to a very great depth. The tests were made for the purpose of 

 comparison with the tests of the muck. 



It will be noted by comparing samples 40 and 42, in the summary of results 

 of soil tests in area No. 2, with samples 36 to 39, inclusive, taken near Lock- 

 port, that the muck soil seems to be more retentive of moisture than the sandy 

 loam of the bayou ridge. The samples of each class of soil were taken at 

 approximately the same depth and on the same date, yet the muck contained 

 nearly 50 per cent more water than the sandy loam. Later in this same season, 

 which was unusually dry, the crops on the muck soil withstood the effects of 

 the drought better than those on the sandy ridge soil. 



In general, the layers of turf or muck of southern Louisiana are quite similar 

 in character to those of other swamp regions of the United States, but having 

 been formed on an alluvial deposit and in many cases mixed with silt, the 

 turf after a few years of cultivation works up into a most excellent soil, which 

 is well balanced in chemical composition. This is proven by the excellent 

 yields of both truck and general field crops on such lands near Lockport and 



