512 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is relatively unimportant. These soils are usually poorly drained and only 

 medium in fertility. For city gardening commercial fertilizer composed of 

 3 to 4 per cent of nitrogen, 8 to 12 per cent of phosphoric acid and 2 to 3 per 

 cent of potash should be applied in amounts ranging from 300 to 1,000 pounds 

 per acre. These should be incorporated in the soil to a depth of about three 

 inches just previous to seeding or planting. 



The sandy loam on gravelly subsoil although small in extent is very im- 

 portant agriculturally, being devoted chiefly to dairy farming. Aside from 

 phosphorus these soils are well supplied with elements of plant-food. The 

 use of phosphorus in conjunction with the manure produced on these farms 

 is the chief consideration in their fertilization. At least 200 pounds of acid 

 phosphate should be applied twice in a four year rotation and if raw rock 

 is utilized as a carrier of phosphorus 1,500 pounds should be appHed per acre 

 and endure about 6 years. 



The river flood plains are exceptionally fertile but owing to the overflow- 

 ing of the streams they are devoted chiefly to grazing. 



The silt loam is the second largest in extent covering 30 per cent of this 

 area. Its occurrence is not confined to any one locality but well distributed. 

 Its natural drainage is poor yet when this condition is attended to this is a 

 very productive soil. It compares favorably with the clay loam in native 

 fertility, containing about the same amount of vegetable matter and nitrogen, 

 somewhat less phoshporus, more potassium and carries enough lime to be 

 alkaline or sweet in reaction. The principles set forth in the discussion of 

 the management of the clay loam soils in general apply to the silt loams 

 of this area. 



During the last regular session of the legislature the bill (Act 12, P. A. 

 1921) creating the Department of Agriculture was passed. By a provision 

 of this bill the inspection of commercial fertiUzers will, on and after July 1st, 

 1921, be conducted under the direction of the Department of Agriculture. 

 All communications in regard to licensing or inspection and analysis of com- 

 mercial fertilizers should, after the above mentioned date, be directed to 

 the Commissioner of Agriculture, Lansing, Michigan. 



