E. T. DUMBLE-THE SOILS OF TEXAS. 
45 
33* 
34+ 
35+ 
Insoluble matter. 
62.97 
63.52 
54.520 
Soluble silica. 
.39 
1.05 
.227 
Potash . 
ii 
160 
Soda. 
13 
1 420 
Lime. 
2 61 
1 83 
8 950 
Magnesia. 
37 
115 
Iron. 
4 89 
4 540 
Alumina. 
9.21 
9^99 
9.140 
Phosphoric acid. 
.19 
.06 
.094 
Sulphuric acid.. 
3.85 
.12 
.077 
Carbonic acid. 
.28 
1.20 
5.570 
Water . 
5 35 
3 620 
Organic and volatile. 
15.47 
10.60 
11.720 
100.97 
100.28 
101.053 
♦Records Geol. Sur. Texas. P. S. Tilson, analyst. 
+ Third Annual Report, Geol. Sur. Texas, p.379. 
Bosque.— The soils of the Upper Cross Timbers are very sandy and are 
usually heavily timbered, but in the valleys some rich dark brown or 
chocolate soils are found, which are well adapted for the production of 
peaches and grapes. These latter soils are largely resultant from the 
limestone and soft arenaceous lime marl of the intermediate beds of the 
division, and are, in consequence, more important between the Brazos 
and the Colorado than north of the former stream. 
The chocolate loams as developed in eastern Burnet county carry 
single trees and scattered clumps of live oaks on the hills, while in the 
valleys pecan, oak, and other hard woods abound. 
While the sandy soils are hardly fit for cultivation, they are the great 
catchment area for the water which supplies the springs and artesian 
wells from Fort Worth to San Antonio and Del Rio. As soon as the 
timber is cut from any portion of this belt and the porous sandy soil is 
subjected to the plow, rapid erosion begins, and the area is not only de¬ 
stroyed for farming purposes, but loses its usefulness as a forest pro¬ 
ducer.* 
A soil from the Upper Cross Timbers is given in analysis 36 of sample 
from Comanche county. 
*These barren spots detract from the absorptive power of the belt, and permit 
a far greater proportion of the rain water to run oft’ than was the case while it 
was forested. Therefore the policy should he to leave the entire strip in forest, 
so that the greatest possible amount of water could be taken up by the underly¬ 
ing sands. It is safe to say that a policy of clearing up this land and putting it 
in cultivation will in the end materially lessen the supply of water in the arte¬ 
sian wells in the artesian belt of North and Central Texas. 
