6 BULLETIN 193^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUKE. 
SOILS. 
In connection with the drainage survey a number of soil borings 
were made in all parts of Jefferson County to depths of 10 to 15 feet, 
to ascertain whether any unusual difficulties would be encountered 
in the construction of ditches and levees or ui draining the land by 
tiling. Several distinct types of soils were found, the predominating 
surface soils being fine sandy loams, loams, clay loams, silt deposits, 
and muck, all underlain by a deep stratum of clay. Limited areas 
of fine sand were also found at the surface in certain parts of the 
county. 
The most common type of surface soil is the -Que sandy loam, 
averaging 12 to 14 inches deep; this was found upon practically 
all the higher land v^hich may be drained by gravity. The loam 
soils are mostly found in the great flat areas or fresh-water marshes 
in the interior of the county. The marshes bordering on the ISTeches 
River are composed entirely of alluvial soil, and the open marshes 
south of Beaumont are largely muck with a high percentage of silt. 
Parts of these marshes are so soft it is nearly impossible to walk 
across them. The great marsh in the southern part of the county 
is composed principally of muck formed by decaying marsh grass, 
underlain by silt. Practically every boring encountered clay between 
the 2-foot and 10-foot depths; below 10 feet the clays contained much 
sand, and some pockets of quicksand were found at 10 to 13 feet. 
So far as the construction of drainage works is concerned, no par- 
ticularly unfavorable soil conditions were found on the upland portion 
of the county. The underlying clays of that region are quite imper- 
vious and prevent the downward percolation of water, and it is this 
fact that makes the level prairies so valuable for growing rice. How- 
ever, where any other crops are grown it will be found advantageous 
to lay tile to remove the surplus water from the soil. Tiling has not 
been tried to any extent in Jefferson County, principally because rice 
is the principal crop and because there are at present no outlets for 
underdrains, but there is no doubt that this kind of drainage will 
work successfully in this soil. The marsh soils may cause consider- 
able trouble during construction if caution is not exercised in handling 
the soft materials. The removal of surplus water from the ground 
will tend to solidify the marsh soil, and cultivation will assist in mak- 
ing it firm. Sugar cane, rice, corn, forage, and truck have been 
raised in Louisiana on reclaimed marsh lands that appear to be similar 
to the marshes of Jefferson County, Tex. 
NATURAL VEGETATION. 
The natural vegetation on the great level prairies is ordinarily 
prairie grass and sedge. The salt marshes support a heavy growth 
of salt or wire grass, and in some places, particularly along the bayous 
