The Bulletin 



CECIL SANDY LUA.M 



This soil is locally known as "gray land," with red clay subsoils. It 

 covers 66,112 acres, or nearly 28 per cent of the county, and is the 

 largest type in extent. It extends in a wide, almost unbroken belt north 

 through the central part of the county, including most of Gaston Town- 

 ship. It is Avell developed around Gastonia, Dallas, Hardins, in the 

 vicinity of Long Creek Church, Snapp, Sellers Store, to the north of 

 Cherryville, around Lucia and in the River Bend section of the county. 

 The greater part of this surface soil consists of a light gray to light 

 brown loose mellow sandy loam. Frequently, below 6 inches the mate- 

 rial is a yelloAvish or reddish-yellow loam. The subsoil begins anywhere 

 between 6 and 15 inches, and is a red stiff clay. There is considerable 

 variation in this type; for instance, the soil is heavier and shallower 

 bordering the clay loam and clay soils. In the vicinity of Union Church 

 and to the south occurs a deeper sandy soil which has a reddish-yellow 

 clay subsoil. As a rule, the deeper and more sandy spots are less pro- 

 ductive than the true brown surface soil areas. Spots of brown gravelly 

 loam are seen here and there and also in a few places a coarser surface 

 soil with bedrock 2 or 3 feet from the surface. The larger gravelly 

 areas have been indicated on the soil map by small circles. 



The surface of this soil is gently rolling to rolling, becoming rough 

 and broken as the streams are approached. The broadest areas occupy 

 a beautiful position for general farming purposes. It is admirably 

 drained ; in fact, the hillsides and steeper slopes should in places be ter- 

 raced to prevent washing. It has a mellow loose structure and is the 

 most easily tilled soil in the county, and all kinds of improved machinery 

 can be used over a large part of it. It absorbs rain water rapidly and 

 the clay subsoil retains it well. The heavier and more typical areas of 

 this soil are best suited to the production of cotton, corn, and cowpeas, 

 while the more sandy areas are suited to truck crops, sweet potatoes, pea- 

 nuts, melons, and rye. 



Cotton yields from % to 1 bale per acre; corn from 10 to 15 bushels 

 ordinarily, but as high as 100 or more bushels per acre have been ob- 

 tained; cowpea hay, % to IV2 tons per acre; while the yield of wheat 

 and oats is generally low. Sweet potatoes produce from 75 to 300 bushels 

 per acre. Sorghum cane yields well, while peanuts, vegetables, and fruits 

 suitable to the climate give fair returns. 



For the improvement of this soil it is recommended that green manur- 

 ing crops or barnyard manure be turned under to supply the needed 

 organic matter and nitrogen. Deeper plowing and better cultivation 

 will give increased yields. 



The following gives the average results of analyses of soil and subsoil 

 of Cecil sandy loam : 



