372 



THE BEQOLITH 



the luxuriant growths of Poa pratensis which they bear. The 

 red ^'buckshot" soils of the Yazoo bottoms, Louisiana, are stifiE 

 clayey alluYial soils mottled with ferruginous spots. 



Many names indicative of mode of formation have already 

 received attention, but a few others may be here noted. The 

 names Endogenous and Exogenous have been proposed for 

 soils formed in place (sedentary) or derived from other sources 

 (transported). It is presumably scarcely necessary to remark 

 that such terms are quite inapplicable and inappropriate. 



The name regur is locally applied to a fine dark argillaceous 

 soil particularly suited for cotton growing which has a wide 

 areal distribution throughout southern India. Its origin ap- 

 pears to be mainly subaerial, though a part of the material so 

 called is undoubtedly alluvial. The material is highly plastic 

 when wet, and expands and contracts to a remarkable degree 

 under varying conditions of moisture and dryness. This soil 

 is very retentive of moisture and rarely requires to be irrigated 

 artificially. It is, as a rule, of great fertility and of wonderful 

 lasting powers, it being stated that in some localities it has 

 borne crops for 2000 consecutive years, without the aid of ma- 

 nures. In depth this soil is rarely over 6 to 8 feet. The follow- 

 ing analyses show the chemical character of the regur (from 

 near Seoni) on the surface and at depths of (An) 5 feet and 

 (Bii) 3 feet below. The analyses A are instructive as showing 

 the large increase in the amount of lime from the surface down- 

 ward. Although not so stated, the slight differences in Bi and 

 Bii are probably due to the lesser depth below the surface from 

 which Bii was taken. 



Chemical Analyses or Begur, of India 







Constituents 



A 



B 



I 



II 



I 



n 



Insoluble matter 



Organic matter 



Water 



Oxide of iron 



Alumina 



62.7% 



9.2 



8.4 

 11.0 



7.5 



1.2 



47.61 % 



8.4 



7.G 

 15.9 



8.6 ' 

 11.89 



62. 8% 



9.0 



8.2 

 10.9 



7.6 



1.5 



63.7% 



8.7 



6.5 

 11.8 



8.4 



Carbonate of lime 



1.3 





100.00% 



100.00% 



100.00% 



100.00% 



