73

First. Soils derived from the country rocks, or rocks that make up the formations of the country. For each formation the character of the soils does not have a wide range.

Second. Soils derived from material that has been transported and distributed over the country, having its origin in the rocks west of where it now rests.

Third. Soils of river and creek valleys which has its origin in the rocks of first and second.

The soils of almost the entire area between Corpus Christi and San Diego belong in class No. 1. It is very fertile, but is not cultivated extensively on account of lack of rainfall at the proper season. From San Diego westward to the Balcones escarpment a great portion of the country has been overrun by water, which has left a deposit of gravel, sand and silt, which was derived from the various rocks to the west. To this deposit belong the soils of class No. 2. They are equally as fertile as those of No. 1, and are well adapted to the growth of fruits-grapes especially, when it is possible to irrigate. To the third class of soils belong the most fertile and those having the least area. When they can be irrigated their fertility is phenomenal.

IRRIGATION.

It is useless at present to consider the matter of irrigation in this region except from flowing streams. Irrigation by artesian wells and storage reservoirs can be applied only to a limited extent, seeing that both will not now more than furnish water for domestic uses. The only source for irrigation on an extensive scale is from rivers and creeks. Zavala county is very successfully irrigated by damming the Leona river two miles above the irrigated tract. The cost to each one benefited is small, and the profits are considerable. Extensive tracts of land along this and other rivers in this region may be irrigated in the same manner.

WORK IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

The principal materials and conditions of economic value which were observed during the work in Lampasas, Burnet and Williamson counties, and which were given special attention, comprise: Building material, such as building stone, sand, brick clay, lime and cement material, road material, soils and marls, artesian water, and irrigation by storage reservoirs, springs and creeks.

Beginning at the base of the Lower Cretaceous formation, near the west line of Lampasas county, a careful section was made and studied, over an area averaging some eight or ten miles in breadth, from the point named to the upper limit of the Upper Cretaceous near the east line of Williamson county.

Previous to this, at the beginning of the regular field season, one month was spent studying the Trinity, Alternating, Paluxy and Comanche