246 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
keep it in some cover crop, or allow the weeds to grow. Barnyard 
manure is beneficial to this soil, and for producing the special truck¬ 
ing crops fertilizers are necessary. Because of its poor drainage 
and lack of development, this soil has a low value. 
The natural vegetation varies. I11 ponds and prairies the grasses 
thrive, including saw grass, sword grass, broom sedge and other 
sedges, and aquatic plants. There is plenty of forage produced, so 
that these lands are held in some esteem as pasture. Some of the 
areas support a growth of cypress, with other hardwood trees in the 
less swampy places. 
PORTSMOUTH FINE SAND. 
The surface soil of the Portsmouth fine sand to a depth of 10 to 
15 inches consists of a black loamy fine sand to mucky fine sand, high 
in organic matter. This is underlain by compact drab or gray wa¬ 
ter-soaked fine sand. When bored into, the sand runs into the auger 
holes, showing that the subsoil flows on the order of quicksand when 
exposed. This tendency makes it difficult to dig effective ditches. 
» In places there is found the brown “hardpan” layer of fine sand like 
that of the Portsmouth sand. The type grades into the Leon soils 
on the higher positions in such a way that sharp boundaries could 
not always be drawn. 
The Portsmouth fine sand has a considerable development in the 
area, being found in a number of bodies along the Withlacoochee 
River and the Tsala Apopka Lake section. It is also found in small 
areas in the shallow lakes or prairies occurring in the Norfolk fine 
sand in the western part of the area. 
The Portsmouth fine sand is a low-lying soil, occurring in asso¬ 
ciation with the swamp and lakes. It is flat and poorly drained. 
The water table is near the surface, and the subsoil is always satu¬ 
rated. The surface is frequently covered by water during rainy 
spells. Some bodies of this type occur in swampy areas, while a 
good deal of it is found in the shallow lakes or prairies and ponds 
or^ sinks. An area east of Dunnellon occupies a flatwoods section 
that is dotted with numerous shallow grass ponds or prairies. 
The Portsmouth sand*supports a variety of vegetation in its dif¬ 
ferent areas. In the ponds or prairies are found water-loving 
grasses and sedges. Saw grass, sword grass, water lilies, and some 
other aquatic plants flourish in the shallow water-covered areas. 
The less frequently water-covered treeless areas support a heavy 
