SOIL SURVEY OF PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA. 325 
or white fine sand of varying thickness or is not developed at all 
within the 3-foot section. The stratum is composed of a compact 
fine sand carrying considerable organic matter. The color is usually 
dark brown to almost black in the upper part and of a lighter brown 
or coffee-grounds color beneath. The color is imparted by organic 
matter. Sometimes the material is underlain within the 3-foot sec¬ 
tion by gray or white sand, but infrequently it continues to a depth 
of considerably more than 3 feet. On account of its compact nature, 
this layer is said to be impervious to water, checking underdrainage 
in wet seasons and retarding the upward capillary movement of 
moisture in dry seasons. 
This is the principal soil of the ‘Tatwoods” section. It is 
most extensively developed in the eastern half of the county. Large 
areas occur southeast of Largo, extending tqward St. Petersburg, 
and to the north and west of Green Springs. Numerous water and 
grass ponds occur in the development of this type southeast of Lar¬ 
go, while in the areas farther north the level topography is varied by 
innumerable cypress ponds, many too small to be mapped. 
The type also occurs on gentle slopes where the land is equally 
as wet and sometimes even more completely saturated than that of 
the flatwoods. There is considerable seepage on these slopes, prob¬ 
ably on account of the resistance offered underdrainage by the hard- 
pan layer. The soil of such slope situations is frequently black to a 
depth of 15 inches or more. 
The characteristic growth on the Portsmouth fine sand con¬ 
sists of longleaf pine, saw palmetto, myrtle, and gallberry. Saw 
palmetto is an indication of the existence of the hardpan layer al¬ 
ready described. (Figure 75.) In the wetter situations the un¬ 
dergrowth of myrtle and gallberry is much more luxuriant than 
elsewhere. During the rainy season this soil is inundated and ex¬ 
tensive drainage systems must be established before it can be suc¬ 
cessfully cultivated. Up to the present time little of the type has 
been utilized, but when reclaimed it should prove an excellent soil 
for truck crops. It is not adapted to citrus fruits. The unimproved 
land is held at prices ranging from $15 to $75 an acre. 
P ort'smouth fine sand , swamp phase .—This phase of Portsmouth 
fine sand is found only in the northern part of the county and is 
mainly confined to small depressed areas within the typical soil. 
These are covered with water all or the greater part of the year, 
and even when not covered the soil is always in a saturated condi- 
