EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



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The subsoil is quite variable in texture, but for the most part it contains 

 sufficient amounts of the different soil separates to be loamy in nature. The 

 heavy subsoil so characteristic of this region is so far removed from the 

 surface that it does not effect the surface layers. In general the subsoil of 

 this formation can be classified as one ideal for an agricultural region. 



Composition. This type affords a very productive soil, however, little 

 general farming is carried on here, the principal occupation being truck 

 farming. The organic matter and nitrogen content are high, nevertheless 

 large amounts of nitrogenous fertilizers are used. Phosphorus is the most 

 deficient of any of the elements, analyses showing less than 800 pounds per 

 acre in the surface layers. The potassium supply is quite high as is true of 

 practically all of the lake bed soils. This type is fairly well supplied with 

 lime and does not require its application for satisfactory results. 



Fertilization. In as much as truck farming predominates on these soils, 

 their fertilization involves heavy cash crops. Where stable manure is used 

 freely the need for both nitrogen and potash is not so great as it is where such 

 is not the case. The liberal use of acid phosphate together with the manure 

 and small amounts of immediately available nitrogen for early cash crops 

 should take care of the fertilization of these soils. Vegetable growers in 

 some sections are using less manure and larger quantities of mixed fertilizers 

 and growing catch crops for green manuring purposes. 



Fig. 13. — Truck crops do well on the sandy lands that were deposited by streams as their deltas. 



