The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-01


extent, dependent upon them for a knowledge
of effects, while they are upon him for that O.
causes and consequent remedies. 1t is par.
ticularly desirable that the several agricultu.
raj societies should cooperate with the sur.
vey, since it is through them that the requi.
site experiments can be best Systematically
made and the results made generally known
and available
Since the Inauguration by the present able
State Geologist, Prof Hilgard, of the system
Of investigation set forth above, we learn by
his report that he has personally given to the
larger portion of the State, excepting the
bottom counties such general, and partly
| special examination, as has placed him in
possession of all its general and agricultural
features; so that it is chiefly the filling up OF
specialities which remains to be done in the
! field.
| Up to the spring of last year, he was
without laboratory. 1t being impossible to
make any real progress without chemical
! WOThS, uO " SOuAplCLC tlC OuIlt
of the laboratory at his own risk and ex-
pense and having done this, he completed
last summer forty-five analyses of soils, SUBJ
soils, marls and limestones, which will appear
in his report, when published, together with
the results, as far as they can be useful at
present, of the field work heretofore per-
formed, both geological and agricultural
| While he did not think it necessary, in the
present report, to give all the special observa-
tons made, unless their bearing was of imme-
! date importance, he thought it advisable to
preface the agricultural part of the work by
q general recapitulation of the general princi-
pies of rational agriculture, with special ref
ercnce to the resources and practices Of this
State Without knowledge of these, the
results communicated could not, of course, be
readily appreciated
The results already elected show strikingly
the great importance of the work. Among
the marls analysed, from the several mari re-
gions of the State, there are several of such
universal fertilizing powers, that for practical
purposes they will be but little inferior to
the best fertilizers. Besides an abundant
supply of these, we possess numerous yarie-
| ties of others, of less universal fertilizing
powers, adapted to every imaginable variety
of soil; the deposits being also much more
universally diffused over the State, than was
heretofore supposed. With reference to soils
themselves, the analyses have elected results
not less interesting and important. The
| marsh soils of the sea-coast have been shown
to possess great resources of fertility; and the
analyses have plainly shown not only the ca
siest mode of retaining them for cultivation,
but also the peculiar adaptability of the marsh
muck for the improvement of the uplands.-
1t has been shown that large portions of the
poorest hills of North Mississippi possess, at
moderate depth, suhsoil Of very fair fertil-
ity and good capacity for improvement. Com
parative analysessof the soil and subsoil of
the Southern river counties, have shown that
The latter is far superior in fertility now to
Egin soil; and that the main
hills" of these counties
terial admirably adapt
of the everything sub
ition of things has been
ference to the "table
The soil Of the
issippi, heretofore
been shown to re-
limeand vegetable
position nearly the
Eia soils.
we'd that our
equal purity
ed Northern