Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-03-23
THE "oPEN. GROUND PRAIRIE" :"

|
We make the following extract from the Report
of Professor Emmons in relation to the "open
Ground Prairie" in Carteret County. The Prof
essor's opinion here given concerning these lands
is not as favorable as when he made his first ex-
animation
"The State of North Carolina owns large tracts of
land, in the Eastern Counties bordering the coast,
the soil of which is eminenty of vegetable origin.
The tract which am to notice is situated in the
County Of Carteret, and is know the Open Ground
Prairie. 1t is within six OIL eight miles, North, of
the town of Beaufort and contains 80 900 acres
In form it is an oblong being about twice long
broad, its longer axis extending E. N. f. On the
s. E. side, several creeks penetrate into or rather
Core Sound sends into it three short which
known as creeks. The LIST is Wards Greek 2nd, !,
Willis Creek Sd, Oyster creek. At the extreme S.
E. border is the North river opposite to which, on
the other side, is Adams Creek, and then South Rv-
er. The creeks and rivers channels which render
access to the Open Ground more feasible for should
be known that nature has fortified these grounds by
thickets of brambles.
Around land upon the outskirts Of the Open Grounds
are ridges, which seem to have enclosed, no dis
tant day, body of water, which was probably shal.
low and fresh, and communicated with the Sound.
By the special direction of His Excellency the Gov
ernor, visited this tract, mainly for the purpose of
determining how tar is susceptible of reclamation
and cultivation. In this enterprise was aided very
efficiently. and indeed kindly. by gentlemen residing
at Beaufort; especially by Dr. Arendell, Mr. llellen
and Capt. Farrar.
We gained access to the Prairie through Wards
| Creek, branch of the North River. In our course
We passed over Piney Ridge, which has breadth of
one-fourth of a mile, and which has vegetable mould
to the depth Of 81 feet, which reposes upon clay,
Beyond this ridge is called the EvergI LADIES',
which are productive and rich. The soil is between
5 and feet, and reposes upon sandy clay, and in
which there lies buried an ancient forest. Sounding
poio
we found bottom at various depths, varying from 3
TO feet, and frequently The sound penetrated pros
trate logs of considerable size. The soundngs in
the Open Prairie sufficiently numerous to prove
great uniformity in the covering of an ancient sea
bottom, which, no doubt, was finally changed into
fresh water lake sound, which, by the progress of
slight elevations from time to time, raised the bottom
above high water mark. In consequence Of these
changes, vegetables peculiar to marshY districts
sprang up. These vegetables, especially the humble
kinds, belong 10 the family of MOSES, but consist
mainly of sPhagum. Trees also grow upon this
boltom particularly the bay; and they evidently at
tained large size. But the moss growing luxuri-
antly, has finally raised the surface in some places
10 feet upon the sand. This renders the present
face less suitable for he growth of trees. The Open
Ground Prairie presents level surface SO far can
be seen, covered with an humble vegetation of sedge
and moss, with here and there solitary pine. Sur
rounding, however, this extensive field, there lofty
pines, interspersed with oaks and chincopn. The
soundings prove field far more productive in trees
than the present. This TACT, taken by ITSELF looks
favorably towards the soil which bore them. In gen.
eraI, however, they were probably bays, and these
are not indicative of good soil. The soil when
brought up from the lowest points We could reach,
was the eye, composed of vegetable matter, with
some sandy soil. 1t was found loose towards the
surface, at least to the depth of Is 90 inches. Il
is a sponge, and holds and retains water like a
sponge. The train OF argument which was dis
posed to adopt if this soil has been competent
to produce and perfect seed capable of repro
ducing species, it may be put under successful cu
ture provided it is put into favorable physical con-
d.on. Still this argument does not hold good. was
inclined 10 adopt it before knew the exact chemical
composition OF the soil. 1t is fully established, as
have had occasion TO ,ay, that soil, purely vegeta
BILE, will not produce the cereals neither will one
Of pure sand or pure lime produce them. Organic
matter is essential constituent, as is sand and clay
and lime. and yet neither by itself produce ripe
seed. There must be mixture of organic and in
organic matter The latter must also consist Of
era elements. These are important principles which
may be applied to the question which be SET
tied by this examination. The characteristics of the
vegetable material were ou ID uniform, and hence it
did not require numerous analyses for TO determine
the nature of the soil. Hence, only four taken
for this purpose.
, These samples were taken from depth Of eigh.
teen or twenty inches. The chemical examination
of the specimens taken, resulted uniformly, in this
One hundred grains gave three per cent. only OF in
organic NATTER proving the almost total absence OF
any earthly compound-the three per cent. consisting
Of the ash of the vegetable matter. The ash con-
'ained silica. phosphate Of lime and per oxyde Of
iron lime, magnesa and potash, the same elements
which usually found in the ash of plants belong
y ing TO marshes. soil thus constituted is not
' ' cep,ibe of profitable cultivation; certainly moi
competeent produce and otter cereals, unless
it be rice. The question then comes up, is there
remedy! Can the Open Ground Prairie be brought
into condition 10 warrant an attempt at cultivation
7 for reasonable expense It's plain enough tha
the first step is lay the prairie portions Off dry
by draining. This is feasible, as il is proved BY
competent engineer, to be sixteen feet above high
water, and be also above the storm tides of the
e coast The first effect of draining will be to reduce
If the level of the prairie about eighteen inches The
surface, and, indeed, the whole body will become
y more compac, and close, and the unchanged organic
matter will, in time, decompose. Another effect will
be, TO raise the temperature of the sc which is now
"a constantly below that Of the dry or drained fields
= Both Of these results will promote vegetation
y better kind but they cannot change materially TIT
,f composition of the soil. There is still, somethn:
e more which must be done. The method which has
n hitherto been pursued with soils Of this kind is 4
add quick lime only, under the impression that it pro
ST notes the speedy decomposition Of the vegetsb,
matter, and converts it into a element for plants
is This practice, however, is not founded upon jus
views it is at least defective, and besides, il is to
m expensive. The trials, too, Of this method, hav
is tailed because lime is injurious. 1t does nc
n go far enough add lime this is sngleelemen
ie Now, il is proved. believe, that these soils
is productive for the want of inorganic ma,ief or,
other Words because the earthly bodies absent
not because lime is absent more than the other ear
ce but because they all absent. 1t follows, then,
the foregoing principles what is required
is the addition of soil. Take any Of the uncultiv
ted soils, marsh mud and sand, any thing Of Il
kind al hand, which consists of earthly matter, az