The Bulletin 



25 



CECIL CLAY LOAM. 



This is the "red clay land" of the southwestern corner of the county. 

 It is the granite red clay as distinguished from the Georgeville silty 

 clay loam derived from the slate rock. There are about 13,000 acres 

 of this soil. The soil is a red or reddish-brown clay loam or loam to a 

 depth of 4 to 8 inches. 



It is underlain by a bright rod stiff clay extending to a depth of sev- 

 eral feet. The immediate surface may have a few inches of reddish- 

 brown sandy loam, and this causes the soil to work into a better tilth 

 than is usually obtained upon the heavy red clay. There are spots of 

 dark brown or snuff-colored clay loam, commonly known as "dead land" 

 or "push land," because it does not slide readily fi-om the plowshare. 



The natural drainage is good for all of the type, as the surface is 

 gently rolling to hilly. Terracing the slopes to prevent washing and 

 gullying is practiced to some extent. The growing of winter cover crops 

 and deeper plowing M'ould retard in a large measure surface washing. 



Corn yields from 15 to 60 bushels per acre, cotton, y^ to ^ bale, 

 cowpeas from 1 to 2 tons of hay, or 10 to 20 bushels of seed per acre. 

 Oats, wheat, and clover, as well as garden vegetables, do well upon 

 this soil. The i)roduetion of small grains should be increased, as good 

 yields can be obtained when the soil is properly handled. 



Some of the best farmers have increased yields very greatly by 

 deeper plowing, preferably in the fall, rebreaking and harrowing in 

 the spring, and by frequent cultivation, together with the turning 

 under of coarse manures, cowpeas, or clover. It is naturally one of 

 the strongest soils of the county and one capable of being imi)rovod to 

 high state of productivity. 



In the following table is given the analyses of Cecil clay loam type 

 of soil and subsoil : ^^.^^^^^ chemical analysis. 



AVERAGE MECHANICAL ANALYSIS. 



Surface soil. 

 Subsoil 



Fine 



Gravel, 



Per Cent 



3.4 

 0.9 



I Coarse 

 Sand, 

 [Per Cent 



10.1 

 5.3 



Medium 



Sand,' 



Per Cent 



4.0 



Fine? 

 Sand. I 

 Pet Cenf 



20.8 

 9.8 



VerylFine 



Sand, 

 Per Cent 



8.4 

 5.6 



Silt, 

 Per Cent 



20.0 

 17.6 



Cla.v. 

 Per Cent 



28.5 

 56.7 



