228 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



The sandy clay soils, or what are popularly known as sugar-ti-ee soils, 

 are pretty well distributed over the higher and more rolling sections of the 

 State. This is our best general piu-pose soil. It usually has good surface 

 and underdrainage, a sufficiently retentive clay sub-soil, with a surface 

 soil of i-ight proportion of clay, sand and humus to give the best mechan- 

 ical and fertile conditions. Such a soil cultivates easily, holds moisture 

 and fertilizers well, and under favorable conditions will grow well any 

 crop of grain, grasses, or fruits we can grow in this latitude. 



Then we have the level or low, heavy, wet, clay soils of the central 

 portion of the State, popularly known as beech-tree soil. This soil usu- 

 ally contains but little humus, or vegetable matter, is a very heavy, 

 compact clay, holding water almost like a jug, and wholly unfit for any 

 kind of cultivated crops without thorough tile drainage and the addition 

 of vegetable matter in the form of stable manure or green crops turned 

 under. This land was regarded by the early settlers as unsuitable for 

 farming. 



With these Improvements in the mechanical conditions of the heavy 

 clay soil, and an occasional application of fertilizers, we can grow all our 

 leading crops. Such soils are especially adapted to growing pears and 

 quinces, as they do best on a heavy, moist, rich, clay soil. Apples, plums 

 and cherries will succeed well, and small fruits, especially strawberries, 

 will do well on this kind of land. 



Closely akin to these heavy clay soils of the central portion of the 

 State, are the Avhite clay soils of the hilly sections of the southeastern part 

 of the State, along the Ohio river. These, with the red clay soils of the 

 hilly sections of the southern part of the State, make up our best fruit 

 soils. They are especially adapted to the apple, peach, plum, blackberry 

 and raspberry. I question whether finer apples are grown anywhere than 

 can be grown on the red clay soils of the low hills bordering Orange and 

 Lawrence counties. I have never seen finer blackberries and raspberries 

 than are grown in these red clay soils. 



Thus far we have had to do principally with the mechanical make-up 

 of the soil. The fertility of the soil is as important as its mechanical con- 

 dition. A proper condition of fertility is that condition where all the 

 elements that enter into the plant's growth are readily available in suffi- 

 cient quantity to meet every demand in the highest development of plant 

 and fruit. 



Through many years of cropping, most of our lands have become more 

 or less impoverished. This is especially true of the clay lands, our best 

 fruit lands. In the hilly sections they have become impoverished by 

 washing and leaching, as well as by constant cultivation. An improper 

 system of cultivation has not only reduced the fertility of our clay soils, 

 but it has made the mechanical conditions less favorable by the removal 

 of vegetable matter, and in this way they have become compacted or run 

 together to such an extent as to have become lifeless and unfavorable to 



