10 The Bulletin 



system, and for this reason withstands the drought better than if planted 

 2 or 3 inches under the surface. Cocke's Prolific and some yellow dent 

 varieties give good yields on the Piedmont soils. As spring-sown oats 

 seldom yield well, on account of the early droughts and rust, only 

 winter oats are grown in Union County, the principal varieties being 

 Hundred Bushel and Appier. From October 15 to November 15 is ap- 

 parently the best time to sow oats in Union County. Oats usually re- 

 ceive an application of acid phosphate and potash in the proportion of 

 8-4 or 10-4 at seeding time and a top dressing in early spring of 75 to 

 100 pounds of nitrate of soda. 



At present very little wheat is grown in the county, although a larger 

 acreage is probable this season than has been customary, owing to the 

 high prices of breadstuffs. 



Best results are obtained from crimson clover where the land has 

 received an application of something like 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of car- 

 bonate of lime per acre prior to seeding. In many localities inoculation 

 of the seed is necessary. Clover is sown at the last cultivation of the 

 corn, after the first picking of cotton, or in cowpeas. Vigorous growths 

 are obtained when 200 to 400 pounds per acre of acid phosphate are 

 applied. Crimson clover is sown in this county from September 15 to 

 October 5. It is often sown with oats for hay. For successful growth 

 red clover requires inoculation on land where it has not been previously 

 grown, and usually as heavy application of lime as for success with 

 crimson clover. Bermuda grass is counted one of the best pasture 

 grasses in the county. 



There is no system of crop rotation generally practiced throughout 

 the county. A few farmers follow a definitely planned cropping sys- 

 tem which could be profitably applied to most of the soils of the county. 

 Where general farming is followed a good rotation now in use is as fol- 

 lows : First year, cotton, sowing crimson clover in the fall ; second 

 year, corn, sowing cowpeas at last cultivation ; third year, a small-grain 

 crop, sowing cowpeas again after harvesting crop, to be followed by a 

 nitrogen-gathering crop. The soil so treated shows steady improvement 

 and many farmers are now beginning to practice this rotation. Others 

 alternate corn and cotton, with no winter cover crop. The slate and 

 granite soils, with the exception of the slaty and shallow phases in the 

 ''slate belt," produce good yields of corn, cotton, oats, wheat, cowpeas, 

 rye, and where lime and inoculated seed have been used, the clovers and 

 vetches. Rye does best on sandy soils. Wheat, oats, and clovers prefer 

 the heavier types of the Georgeville and Cecil series. Sweet potatoes, 

 peanuts, and early truck crops make their best development on the light 

 sandy loams. Cabbage, Irish potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, and straw- 

 berries do best on the sandy loams and the Cecil clay loam. The lighter 

 areas of the sandy loams and the slate soils give the best returns with 

 apples, peaches, pears, grapes, and other fruits. The Cecil and George- 



