There are two kinds of superficial formations, one consisting of upland soil derived from the decomposition of the rocks on the spot, peculiar to the hilly region, and the other alluvial soil, deposited by water, belonging to the plains and to the hollows in the valleys of rivers. They are variously composed, according to the rocks from which they are derived, and are sometimes of a heavy rich aluminous character, or consist of alight and fertile loam, in no case of very great depth, except in the immediate vicinity of the Godavari. The long flat levels on the summits of the hills have a shallow black aluminous soil, covered with long grass. The sides, when not in rocky ledges, are composed of crumbling and partially decomposed dolerites and amygdaloids; while the bases are of the same stony and unproductive nature, or contain a shallow soil scarcely more than a couple of inches in depth. The higher portions of the valleys are likewise shallow and undulating, and much intersected with nallas, Black soils occasionally occur, resting either on calcareous beds or on partially decomposed globular basalt. In the river valleys lower down, a light-brown kankary alluvium is the prevailing soil. This is often associated with a sub-recent conglomerate—while cotton soil occurs above in patches here and there, sometimes of a black colour, and sometimes mixed with rod. The black soil is generally derived from basalt; and its composition and colour vary according to the proportions of iron, lime, magnesia, and the amount of organic matter that it contains. The reddish kinds are perhaps coloured by the clayey beds of bole and the red amygdaloidal traps. These, and the greyish and brownish varieties, are very absorbent and retentive of moisture, and are exceedingly fertile. In fact such is the exuberant fertility of basaltic soils in general, that some are said to bear wheat-cropping for thirty years in succession without a fallow; while a still more remarkable statement is made, that some of the black-soil plains have produced crops for two thousand years, without manure, without having been left fallow, and without irrigation. As a rule, black soil is never irrigated at all. It expands and contracts to an unusual extent under the respective influence of moisture and dryness. During the rains it is exceedingly muddy; and in the hot weather it is covered with cracks and holes. About Bokardan and Jalna the soil is sometimes very calcareous, generally poor, and abounds with efflorescence of soda. The wells too, are often brackish. Towards A’mbad, there are greyish soda soils in the upper parts, with darker and more fertile soils in the hollows. Sometimes the soil is of a reddish-brown colour. Similar soils occur towards Paitan, where they are brownish-black, reddish, and greyish. The high bank east of Paitan contains some valuable yellow clay beds derived from decomposed felspars; and towards Gandapur and Baizapur there are very fertile reddish-brown soils. The valley on the right bank of the Sivna contains very adhesive black soil, shallow and full of basaltic boulders. The valley in which Aurangabad is situated contains rich reddish-brown soil; and a similar soil is generally characteristic of the other valleys and hollows, such as those at Elura, Kanhar.
