The Bulletin 



25 



The producing power of the Cecil clay is practically never realized 

 under existing methods of handling it. Deeper plowing, more thorough 

 preparation of the seed-bed, the addition of humus, are essential for in- 

 creasing the productivity of this soil. The Cecil clay requires heavy 

 teams and strong equipment in the way of farming machinery for the 

 highest efficiency in crop production. 



The following table gives the average results of analyses of the soil 

 and subsoil of this type : 



AVERAGE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CECIL CLAY. 



AVERAGE MECHANICAL ANALYSIS. 



Surface soil. 

 Subsoil 



Clay, 

 Per Cent 



50.3 

 59.9 



CECIL FINE SANDY LOAM 



There are 22,272 acres of this soil in the county. It is a mellow fine 

 sandy loam of a yellowish gray to light brown color and has a depth of 

 6 to 12 inches. It is underlain by a red, stiff clay, extending to a depth 

 of 3 feet or more. Between Matthews and Mint Hill and around Hoods 

 the soil is a light brown, very fine sandy to silty loam. 



This type of soil is largely confined to the southeastern and north- 

 eastern parts of the county. It is well developed around Matthews, near 

 Hoods, along the Union County line, to the southeast of Amity Church 

 in the vicinity of Thompson Store, on Pine Eidge, around Paw Creek 

 and near Sharon Church. 



Its surface varies from gently rolling to hilly and broken, the smoother 

 surface areas lying between Matthews and Mint Hill and the more 

 broken areas, ridges and knolls, occurring near the Cabarrus County line 

 and south of McAlpine Creek. ^NTatural surface drainage is good, and 

 even excessive on the steeper slopes, resulting in serious erosion in many 



