E. T. DUMBLE-THE SOILS OF TEXAS. 
33 
removed by later denudation, are sands and gray silts; but where the 
clays appear at the surface black waxy soils result. 
The soils in the immediate vicinity of the coast are for the most part 
sandy, while the gray silts are more abundant in the eastern portion of 
the belt and are covered with pines. Westward the clays predominate, 
and the prairies are interrupted only by motts of trees and the timber 
growth along the streams. 
The eastern portion of the belt includes a small extent of marsh land, 
which is practically all of the sea marsh of our Gulf coast. 
From its level nature this belt has been somewhat difficult of drain¬ 
age, and, after heavy rains, water stands in low places for a considerable 
period. However, in places drainage ditches can be constructed to the 
various streams which cross the belt; or, where the expense of such a 
ditch is too great for a single farmer, he can always sink a well at the 
lowest point of his tract, to one of the beds of quicksand which almost 
universally underlie this area, and drain into that at moderate cost. This 
has proved a success in many instances, and is worthy of much more uni¬ 
versal adoption. 
Local peculiarities of soil are not wanting. Among them may be 
mentioned the small mounds that dot the prairies, presumably the result 
of former mud volcanoes such as are now common in the belt of the 
Mississippi, and the “bald spots,” which have not yet been fully ac¬ 
counted for, but which are most probably due to “alkali.” 
The analyses given show the composition of the gray sandy loam as 
seen at Pierce Junction (No. 1) and the black waxy soil around Alvin, 
with its subsoil (Nos. 2 and 3). These both show potash and phospho¬ 
ric acid in good proportion, if the soil and subsoil be taken together in 
the Alvin material, and there is a sufficiency of lime in both. 
Insoluble matter.... 
Soluble silica. 
Potash. 
Soda. 
Lime . 
Magnesia. 
Manganese. 
Iron . 
Alumina. 
Phosphoric acid 
Sulphuric acid . 
Carbonic acid . 
Water. 
Organic and volatile 
1* 
2t 
3+ 
80.360 
3.613 
J- 86.460 
71.28 
0.291 
.093 
.46 
0.197 
.175 
.56 
0.653 
.958 
6.33 
0.272 
0.174 
.464 
1 .46 
2.401 
0.850 
1.94 
6.079 
2.430 
4.03 
0.156 
.024 
.22 
0.075 
.090 
.09 
.399 
5.06 
j- 5.313 
2.230 
5.480 
2.91 
5.02 
99.584 
99.603 
99..39 
*Cotton Production, Tenth Census, p. 31. 
•(•Bulletin No. 35, Tex. Ag. Ex. Sta., p. 600. 
