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which is a sulphate of lime, occurs in shall quantities, throughout the limestone region of the State, whatever may be the geological formation, gypsum being in the silurian, carboniferous, cretaceous and tertiary periods. To its wide dissemination, the great fertility of our soils is largely indebted.

On the headwaters of the Red River and its tributaries, is one of the largest gypsum formations known, extending for hundreds of miles, and affording inexhaustible supplies. Gypsum in all its forms is here, alabaster, selenite and all the coarser varieties. To the State it is worth more than the richest gold mine, for, by a liberal application of it to the sandy soils of the State, their fertility will be more than doubled. More will be said about this in the Agricultural Report.

West of Corpus Christi, towards Brownsville, are many large and small shallow lagoons or arms of the Gulf, which, during the prevalence of winds blowing inland, joined with the tides, are filled with salt water, which is there evaporated, depositing the salt at the bottom in small crystals. At ebbtide, the salt is left dry, and is then collected for use. It is often ground before using. Large supplies are thus obtained.

At Jordan's, or Grand Saline, as now called, in the southern part of Van Zandt county, are large salt springs, or rather wells, in a valley of several hundred acres. During the war many wells were sunk here, and about 1000 sacks of salt daily made. Each sack has about 200 pounds. Now but one well is used, the supply of water from this being ample to make to make about fifty sacks a day, which is the average amount now made. To obtain the water, wells are dug through a sandy soil about eighteen feet, at which depth a quicksand is met, at the bottom of which is a hardpan, out of which. the salt water flows strong and fast, the supply being unlimited. One gall on of the water makes one pound and one-third of a pound of salt. An analysis of the water gives fourteen per cent. of chloride of sodium, the chemical name for salt. The water also has a small per cent. of iron and sulphate of lime and a trace of magnesia..

A very white and good looking salt is here made, which