The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-23

The general makeup of the lands OF
this section was formed under pecu-
liar circumstances; they are not allu-
vial deposits by encroachments upon
the sea. nor on the other hand are they
made up from the break down from
themountains as is generally sup
posed: but are in every respect true
uplifts from thesea. In this uplft the
lands brought up with them all their
varied deposits and marine salts,
which in a great measure they have
retained to the present time, owing TO
the fact that no great heat was evolved
in this upheaval, as there IS In noun
tnnious sections. From this clrcum-
stance we can easily account for the
great fertility of the lands of this sec
ton. This entire section to within
few miles of the ocean is am up
heaval, and there is unmistakable evil
evidence that 1T has been twice sub
merged beneath the sea.
There are the remains of forest to-
be seen a distance from the coast be-
tween Fort Caswell and LoclIwood's
Folly that is several feet below sea
level The Stumps, roots and former
surface soil are intact in many places;
the same has also been found in the
bed of the Cape Fear river above
Smithyille.
And without doubt this same forest
deposit extends to Duplin and Samp-
son. In these counties the marine de-
posts of the older period of animal
life extend down to an unknown
depth. but above this there is well
defined stratum of logs, brush and
leaves in the form of Ignite. But
stranger still, this underground for
est is covered by clay shale, and far
Their above this Shale there are found
the phosphate rock and other marine
deposits; and in one instance this I'M
foreground forest was found TO be COW
cred to a depth of over forty feet with
shell and crystalized mari, and above
this there was at least forty or fifty
more fet of clay. The evidences are
unmistakable that this section, at
some unknown period, has undergone
gradual subsistence. As the ground
sank below the waves it formed a
great area of shadows upon which the
Mollusca grew in boundless numbers;
as the land gradually sank lower new
generations of these animals grew
over the beds of a former age, thus
forming our older beds of mari.
From some unknown cause nature
reversed her action, and from grad
ual sinking there was then an up
heaval, and this section was raised
above the level of the sea. Then a for
est fiourished After which the land
was swept down by the waves, and
over its remains became the home OF
the shell fish. As the earth sank ma
rine clays and mud were here and
there deposited. Then the phosphate
rock was formed and then again, there
was another upheaval and the land
xx-aS r.oira1 HAVING IL sc we sea if to-
day.
This upheayal was so gradual and
uniform that the present face OF the
country represents the contour of the
ground as 1t lay under the waves, with
the exception of the slight eyasions
since made by the streams.
MUD LANDS.
The Mud Lands are found along all
the streams, even to the sources of
their tributaries, and are confined to
the bottoms. being the matter sifted
down by oyerflows, and the decay of
vegetable matter. Their depth varies
from one TO ten feet.
These lands lie over a sub-stratum
of clay, sand or mari. There is, how
ever, another class Of lands that in
character are similar to the mud lands,
etable matter over plateau or mari, or
nearly earth. In description these
lands will be classed with the mud
lands.
The mud lands are the most produc-
tive of all, and their fertility is almost
perpetual, as they have the inherent
power, through chemical action, Of
converting all vegetable matter that
grows upon them into humus or soil
fertile earth). So this soil like GER
tain prairie lands is rather accumula-
tive when under proper tillage, or in a
state Of nature.
But all soils that are accumulative
must be rich enough to decompose by
fermentation all vegetable matter that
falls upon their surface, and also have
the proper consistency and chemical
combination to absorb this decompos-
ed matter and convert it into humus,
and hold it.
HYDE COUNTY LANDS.
The late DR. Emmons, the eminent
geologist, examined some of the soils
of Hyde county that had been in cul-
tivation over one hundred years. These
soils produce annually sixty bushels
of corn to the acre. After weighing
the crop grown, and making an analy-
sis this learned scientist discovered
that these lands would con-
tinue to produce for another
hundred years the same amount of
corn, without any sensible abatement,
The depth of this soil was four feet
There is in this section mud lands
equally as fertile as the Hyde lands,
that are from nine to ten feet deep.
Bycomparison with the Hyde soils the
lands would produce crops without
any sensible decrease for over four
hundred years.
The mud lands are found upon all
the streams from Pamlico to the south
ern limit of the semi-tropical area
often attaining width OF from one 10
two miles.
The cleaning of these lands is simple.