The Bulletin 31 



iron concretions, but these do not interfere with cultivation. In the 

 low wooded areas the surface soil in places is almost black. 



The greatest development of this type is in the southern part of the 

 county to the east of Pineville, north of Downs Church, around and to 

 the north of Kendrick Crossroads, and south of Shopton. Large bodies 

 also occur west of Hopewell Church, east of Long Creek Church, and 

 east of Jonas Church. 



This soil is characterized by flat, undulating, and gently rolling sur- 

 face features, though spots occur on knolls and ridges. The more rolling 

 areas possess good surface drainage, but the drainage of the flatter areas 

 is poor, and open ditches are essential in preparing the land for crop- 

 ping. Some little trouble is experienced in the spring and during heavy 

 rains in the summer in getting these areas dry. This, however, can be 

 overcome to some extent by ditching and deeper plowing. The im- 

 pervious clay subsoil prevents drainage and naturally causes the lower 

 lying areas to be of a rather cold nature. 



The Iredell loam, like the fine sandy loam, has been derived from 

 diorite. Some of the "nigger-head" rocks are seen on the surface in 

 places. 



Blackjack oak is the predominating forest growth, although some post 

 oak and willow is found. On ridges and slopes cedar and old field pine 

 are characteristic trees. 



Until recently the Iredell loam has been looked upon as a poor soil 

 for general farming, but now it is highly prized. In Mecklenburg 

 County it is well adapted to cotton, corn, oats, wheat, and the grasses. 

 Cotton yields from one-third to one bale, corn from -20 to 40 bushels, 

 oats from tO to 60 bushels, and wheat from 10 to 30 bushels per acre. 

 Cowpeas, vetch, Johnson grass, and lespedeza do well. The grasses make 

 an excellent growth and afford good pasturage for cattle or sheep, and 

 stock raising could be profitably extended. Fruits do not produce as 

 well on this soil as on the Cecil types. Cabbage, sorghum, potatoes, and 

 garden vegetables are grown for home use. 



One of the best and most economical ways to improve the Iredell loam 

 is to plow deeper, turning the soil in the fall, and occasionally subsoil- 

 ing, leaving the land rough and exposing a thin layer of the sticky clay 

 subsoil to the weather. Alternate freezing and thawing during the win- 

 ter will cause the materials to crumble, and by spring a much better 

 physical condition will have been produced. This method promotes 

 better drainage and, besides, affords a deeper seed-bed for the plants and 

 will tend to prevent the rusting and "frenching" of the crops. At pres- 

 ent these diseases affect the crops on practically all areas of the type. 

 The rust of cotton usually shows from the first to the middle of July, 

 and the diseased plants never fully open their bolls, making picking 

 difficult. 



A good rotation for the Iredell loam would be corn, sowing cowpeas 

 at last plowing, followed by winter oats, and then by cotton. It is said 



