The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-27

into large bays, extending many mile
inland, it is here bordered by an a.
most continuous chain of islands an
peninsulas (the latter having the sam
tend as the islands). The gulf horde
OF this chain is a very regular lin
southwest from the mouth of the Sa
bine river, or lake, to near Corpu
Christi, which occupies the highes
point on the entire coast, and theme
turns with a regular curve south ant
slightly southeast to Mexico"
The territory east of the timber re
gion and north Of the gulf coast, a
above outlined, is vast open plain
composed of gently rolling prairiel
and gradual elevations. 1t is covered
with a luxuriant growth of native
grasses, and dotted by an occasional
mott of timber, and extends to the
Red river on the north and the mount
ain ranges of the west and north
west. The water courses and rayines
are usually fringed with a growth Of
blackberry, ash, elm, cottonwood, pc.
can, walnut, and the various oaks.
West and northwest lie the hills and
mountain ranges of the State, which
are combinations southwark of the
mountains Of Mexico, New Mexico
and Colorado. In the extreme north
west, bordering Kansas on the south
and New Mexico on the west, is the
elevated table land formerly known as
the Llano Estacado or Staked Plains.
1t is now designated as the Panhan-
die of Texas, and destined to be one
OF the best agricultural and stock
raising sections of the State. On a
line north of Austin and San Antonio
and running in a southwesterly direc-
ton there is a low range of hills that
mark change in the topography of
the country. Westward it is more
broken and the elevations more alb
rupt. The valleys are broad and the
lands very fertile.
Texas justly lays claim to greater
variety and richness of soil than any
state in the union. The black waxy,
black sandy, black pebbly, hog wallow,
grey sandy, red sandy, sandy loan and
alluvial soils, are each to be found in
the State, the majority of them in
greater or less quantities in each sec
ton. About the best evidence of the
richness and fertility of these various
soils that can be offered is the fact
that commercial fertilizers, now so
common in,the older States, and con-
shutting as much fixed charge on the
agricultural interests of those sections
as the seed necessary to plant the
ground, are not used at all in Texas.
Another fact worthy of mention in
this connection is that there are thou
sands of acres in cultivation in this
State that have been cultivated con-
for more than thirty years
which now yield as much per acre as
they did when first planted. The
principal soils of Texas are black waxy,
black sandy, and alluvial lands of the
river bottoms. The other varieties are
minor divisions, and for the purpose
If this report a brief description of
these only will be given.
The black waxy soil, so called from
is color and adhesive qualities, is the
'ichest and most durable of the soils
If the State. 1t constitutes a large
percentage Of the prairie region, and
$ better adapted to the growth of
grain crops than other soils of the
State. 1t varies in depth from twelve
inches to many feet, the average
lepth being about eighteen inches,
md is not appreciably affected by the
rains so injurious to looser
oils.
One of the largest bodies of upland
lack prairie in the United States ex-
ends from Lamar county, on the Red
liver, southwest in an irregular man
Ter to a point south OF San Antonio
II Bexar county, with a width of 40
niles on the north end, 100 in the
middle and about sixty on the south
nd, and embracing twenty-three and
'arts of twenty-six counties.
This soil covers very large area of
he State, and is very productive and
asily cultivated. 1t is highly es-
eemed for gardening purposes and
ruit growing.
1t is very loose and requires care
nd attention to prevent deterioration
rom washing away the surface. Por-
ions of the timber region, counties
ordering on timber belt of East
'exas, and also the cross timbers, con-
ain more or less sandy land. |
The alluvial soils of the river bot
Oms vary in quality according to the
erritory drained by the streams on
'hich they are located. River soils
asst of the Brazos river partake more
the waxy character and are sitter
han those on the Brazos and streams
eastward that dIain the sandy lands
the northwest. The Brazos river
ottom is regarded as the most valua-
lie in the State, on account of its
srtility and comparative immunity
ON overtlows. The Lower Brazos
in the heart of the sugar
rowing belt, and its bottom lands in
nat section are considered equal to
ne best sugar producing region of
ouisiana.
The variety of crops that Texas
ills are capable of growing is as yet
N L noy,, For IN fprp,o fiop II, reoo ri | :