1853-62.] CAE1STATIC : EIGHT DISTRICTS. 



207 



plication for information, was supplied by Mr. Dawson 

 Mayne. 



Soil. — " Cotton is cultivated in all descriptions of 314 

 soils found in this district, but more extensively in those 

 known as the Caresal or Black Cotton soil ; secondly, 

 in the Yeppel (a mixture of Black and Sandy soil) ; 

 thirdly, in the Pottel (a stiff clayey soil) ; and fourthly, 

 in the Shevel or Red soil. 



1st, The Caresal, or Black soil.—" The Black Cotton 315 

 soil is of a loose friable nature, varying in depth from 

 two to five or six feet. Soon after a heavy fall of rain, 

 the upper surface of the soil, to a depth of about nine 

 inches, becomes dry ; but the lower portion, to a depth 

 of four or five feet, will retain moisture for four or 

 five weeks. The other crops grown on this soil are 

 cumboo, cholum (different sorts of maize) ; buller, 

 Bengal gram, varagoo, red gram (species of vetch or 

 pulse), raggy, theny, cootheerivaly, chendrookoo oil, 

 and castor oil seeds, etc. The soil is considered ex- 

 tremely fertile. 



2nd, The Veppel, or Black and Sandy soil.—" The 316 

 Veppel, or Black and Sandy soil, partakes of the same 

 nature as Black Cotton soil, varying in depth from two 

 to four and a half feet. After a heavy fall of rain, the 

 upper surface of this soil, to a depth of about six 

 inches, soon becomes dry ; but the lower stratum, to a 

 depth of three or four feet, will retain moisture for 

 three or four weeks. The other crops grown on this 

 soil are cumboo, raggy, cholum, buller, red gram, theny, 

 and castor oil seeds, etc. This soil also is considered to 

 be fertile, but in a less degree than that first named. 



3rd, The Pottel, or stiff clayey Soil.—" The Pottel 317 

 soil is stiff and untractable. It varies in depth from 

 one to three and a half feet. After a heavy fall of rain, 

 the upper surface of this soil, to a depth of four inches, 

 will soon become dry ; but the lower stratum, to a 

 depth of three feet, will retain moisture for about two, 

 or two and a half weeks. The other crops grown on 

 this soil are cumboo, horse-gram, samay, varagoo, theny, 

 and castor oil seeds, etc. This soil is not considered 

 fertile. 



