er passes with a mean velocity | finished what she has so auspiciously of two feet per second. During a flood, commenced, large additions, and in a his velocity is greatly augmented, and state far more fitted to reward their efhe water contains about a thousandth forts, would have been subjected to their art by weight, and a two-thousandth control. art by bulk, of purely earthy matter, fielding a daily deposite of nearly one aillion, four hundred thousand tons! The effect of this immense floating alluion is seen in the gradual deposites and elevation of the lowlands bordering he principal stream, and its numerous ayous and collateral branches, the accretions on the levée opposite the centre of the city (which have extended the ank several hundred feet within a few years), and the constant and rapid exension of the land at the mouth. The ate Judge Martin states that "the old Balize, a post erected by the French in 1724, at the mouth of the river, was two miles above it in 1827."

Everywhere on the banks of the passing stream the land is highest; as the water charged with floating matter overlows its brim, and becomes comparatively stagnant, allowing a large portion of the solid material to subside, while the partially-purified water passes onward through other channels to the gulf. The result of this is to give a higher arable surface for some distance from the banks, while that portion of the land remote from them subsides into irreclaimable swamps, and frequently navigable lakes and lagoons. The natural elevation of the banks is not yet sufficient to prevent the overflow from floods; and this object is secured by artificial levées, or embankments, on both sides, which extend in a continuous line for hundreds of miles on the main stream and its collateral channels. The slow accumulation and consequent elevation of the surrounding country from deposites, which would otherwise have been going forward, is thus arrested; and the present low swampy surface must forever continue unreclaimed, til! embankments on the lower sides, and the artificial removal of the waters, bring portions of it into a condition for future cultivation. Could the hand of civilization and modern improvement have been arrested for a few centuries longer, till nature had

The delta of the Mississippi is similar in its character, though on an immeasurably larger scale, to that formed around and below the junction of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, and extending into Mobile bay. Here it is apparent that the waters of the bay once extended high up the stream, and embraced what are now the low, level banks on either side. The same is true of the mouths of the Pearl, Pascagoula, and other smaller streams, which lie between those larger rivers; and we are thus inevitably forced to the conclusion, that the inner channels which lie within the islands stretching from Mobile to Lake Borgne, inclusive of this, and Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, and the innumerable other smaller lakes and bayous which intersect the whole delta of the Mississippi, have been rescued from the tidewaters within a recent period. And there is scarcely a doubt that this former arm of the gulf once extended up the Yazoo, the Red river, and some other of the smaller rivers, all of whose banks are intersected by numerous channels, through which the waters flow into the adjoining streams, as either has the ascendency from recent floods on its upper branches. These interlocking with each other in every direction, and all at last terminating in the gulf, separate the entire delta into a perfect network of islands. The land seldom rises beyond a few feet above lowwater-mark, and, from the banks, gradually subsides into the swamps, lagoons, and lakes in the rear. The latter are sometimes deep, but are usually shallow, with the slightest declination from a level as they recede from the shore; while the shorter and more direct channels, through which the water flows to the gulf with fearful rapidity in times of floods, are generally narrow and of immense depth, frequently exceeding one hundred feet. The coast is usually a low receding line, so obscurely defined as to leave it question

able, for miles, where the water ends in fact, the whole stra
and the land begins.

rapidly becoming a lime
to 140, sand, very fine, of a .
containing a large portion of mica; 140
to 145, alternate thin strata of sand and
clay-the clay extremely hard, firm, and
beautiful, when fresh not unlike choc-
olate in appearance; 145 to 171, clay.
or mould, of a variety of colors, inter-
mixed with some sand, likewise a sub-
stance much resembling fuller's earth.
This stratum at first was nearly white.
After penetrating it about two feet, it
became darker and extremely hard and

The condition of the surface clearly indicates that draining is the first and paramount object in the cultivation of the alluvial land of Louisiana. This has accordingly been practised to an extent far beyond anything elsewhere in the United States. Large ditches running from the banks of the river and bayous to the swamps in the rear, intersected by numerous cross excavations of a less depth, effectually drain off the surface-water. GEOLOGY.-The following is an inter-compact, also very adhesive, and capable esting detail of observations, made du- of being cut in very thin pieces with a ring an experiment of boring for fresh knife. water to the depth of two hundred and six feet below the surface, at the mouth of Bayou St. John, New Orleans, by the superintendent of the work:

In this stratum, at 168 feet, passed a few inches of sand, but below to 171 feet, the stratum the same again; 171 to 184, strata same as above; 184 to 192, sand, shells, and mould: in this stratum we found shells of almost every variety found in this vicinity; also, what

"From the surface to 18 feet, vegetable mould, wood, &c., very impure so much so, that, although in the month of February, the smell was almost in-appeared to have been a whole crab, but supportable; from 18 to 28 feet, blue clay or vegetable mould, but not so impure as the first 18 feet; 28 to 33, sand, shells; 33 to 40, dark, fine sand, free from shells; 40 to 43, sand, clay, shells, and vegetable matter, but a very large portion of shells; 43 to 66, blue clay, sand, and shells, but mostly clay-the last 10 feet, clear clay, and very hard, dry, and adhesive, the strata growing lighter to pale yellow; 66 to 77, fine, beautiful yellow sand, containing a large quantity of mica, also petrifactions and indurated clay-this stratum was very strongly impregnated with sulphur, so much so as to render the water offensive to the smell; 77 to 87, pale clay, vegetable mould, and sand, very compact and hard; 87 to 118, blue clay or mould, intermixed with some sand; 118 to 119, sand, clay, and shells; 119 to 137, the same strata of blue clay or mould, intermixed with some fine sand, the color growing a little paler, intermixed toward the bottom with many shells.

broken by the instrument in getting it up; the claws were very perfect, so that the joints might be worked by the finger; also a bone of about two inches in length, and evidently broken, supposed to be a bone of a deer; also pieces of wood, in a high state of preservation, apparently cypress. 192 to 194, sand and mould intermixed, two inches of sand and stones, apparently in a rapid state of formation; 194 to 196, mould and sand, very hard, of a greenish color; 196 to 199, alternate strata of mould and sand, containing many stones, ap parently forming rock; 199 to 201, sand and clay, in alternate veins, containing much water; 201 to 2024, clay of a light pale color; 2024 to 2034, clay and mould of a dark color, very hard and beautiful-the division in the color was very distinet; 2034 to 206, the same as from 201 to 2024.

"The soil alluded to called clay, is in all probability a formation of vegetable and mud of the Mississippi. I have found that when dry it becomes very light, and some of it has much the ap pearance of wood or other vegetable substance."

New Orleans is the principal city of

production and manufacture was first zealously commenced in the United States. When it had been ascertained that much of the soil of Louisiana was adapted to the growth of the cane, and that it could be raised with great pecuniary advantage, the government of the United States had the judgment to employ the distinguished chemist Professor Silliman, of Yale college, to examine the subject in its various aspects; and his report presented a most valuable collection of facts, for the guidance of congress in making regulations for the encouragement of the business, as well as of the agriculturists and manufacturers entering into it.

might be called a hill. A hilly range | not overlooked, when this branch of commences at Opelousas and extends toward the Sabine river, running about equally distant between that stream and Red river. Gradually rising, it assumes at length the aspect of mountains. Another ridge lies between Red river and the Dudgemony. The whole state, however, with small exceptions, may be regarded as a succession of pine woods with a gently rolling surface, prairies, alluvions, swamps, and hickory and oak lands. The prairies, in many places, present the peculiar characteristics of those extensive level tracts properly known by that name in other parts of the west and southwest, being unvaried even by a single elevation, and in summer overgrown with a uniform coat of grass, richly besprinkled with flowers of various hues.

The following brief description of the manufacturing processes, is copied from a series of letters published in the New York Express, in June and July, 1847 :

Large quantities of swampy land remain unreclaimed, which is of a rich soil, capable of yielding abundant crops of "In the northern states comparatively sugarcane; but various obstacles still little is known as regards either the culprevent its improvement. Draining is ture or growth of the cane, or the many the first step necessary: but the back- and varied principles of manufacturing wardness of emigrants in choosing the its rich juice into sugar; yet we may plains of Louisiana, caused partly by anticipate that a more perfect knowledge the fear of disease and partly by un- of this branch of industry will soon be settled land-titles, prevents that advance apparent. Texas and all parts south in prosperity which could be desired. of South Carolina are adapted to the The sickliness of the climate is exag-planting of cane, and for several reasons gerated; for, although the yellow-fever all those places will become sugar-growhas often been fatal in some parts of the ing districts. Cotton-planting, which country as well as in New Orleans, the used to be prosecuted with such vigor, is general impression at a distance doubt- now gradually dying away; the staple less exceeds the reality; and some parts article, sugar, is fast usurping its place; of the state are as healthful as any parts the cottonfield is changed to the sugarof our country. This is particularly cane, and the ginhouse to the sugarthe fact with the pine hills; and that house. The production of sugar has unwholesome miasmata of the lower, gradually increased up to the crop of marshy lands would doubtless be in a 1845-'5; but the crop of 1846-7 fell great degree destroyed, if a good sys- short of even 1841, being only about tem of drainage were once formed. one hundred and thirty thousand hogsheads of a thousand pounds each, and about four and a half millions of gallons of molasses. Although this was a very small crop, it sold for more money than the largest crop ever produced in America, probably on account of England now admitting slave-grown sugar. The short crop of last year may be partly attributed to the unpropitious season. This year, so far, has the most auspicious

SUGAR-MAKING.-The making of sugar on a large scale, in this state, is of but recent date; yet it already forms a most important and lucrative branch of business, and is so rapidly increasing, with so great improvements in the different methods and processes, that it threatens almost to absorb the attention, labor, and capital of the state. Science was early called in, and practical experience was