24 The Bulletin 



addition to the Iredell Clay Loaiu, the other soils containing the largest 

 amounts of this constituent are Cecil Fine Sandy Loam, Cecil Clay, 

 Cecil Loam, and Cecil Stony Loam. These lowest in total lime content 

 are Cecil Coarse Sandy Loam, Cecil Sandy Loam, Cecil Clay Loam, and 

 Durham Coarse Sandy Loam. 



WHAT CUE EXPERIMENTS HAVE SHOWN TO BE THE CHIEF NEEDS OF THE SOILS 



The results of experiments that have been conducted in this county on 

 Cecil Sandy Loam, in Mecklenburg County on Cecil Clay, and in Iredell 

 on Cecil Clay Loam, have shown as an average of many trials that nitro- 

 gen and phosphoric acid are the plant-food constituents chiefly needed 

 by these types of soil in average condition at the present time. 



Potash has not generally been found to be very essential for general 

 crops, such as corn and cotton, grown in the section. It is more than 

 probable that for such crops as tobacco and potatoes applications of 

 potash, when the price is normal, may prove to be financially profitable. 

 Especially is this so Avhen the soils of these different types are low in 

 organic matter. 



Judging from the analyses of the soils of the different types found in 

 the county, and from such information as has been obtained otherwise 

 with reference to these soils, it is thought that nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid are the two controlling plant-food factors in crop production. 

 Organic matter, too, with practically all of the soils is of the highest 

 importance, and should be added in larger quantities than has been the 

 case heretofore, as would be indicated by the small amount of organic 

 matter contained at the present time. When leguminous crops and other 

 cover crops are grown and plowed into the soil to increase the organic 

 matter supply already present, it will be found that in most cases a fairly 

 liberal use of lime M-ill be essential for best returns. The experiments 

 have indicated that A\here lime is used alone or in combination with other 

 plant-food constituents it makes but poor showing, as does potash with 

 soils low or only moderately well supplied with organic matter. Where 

 the organic matter is increased, as should be the case, with the soils of 

 the county, lime will become nioi*e essential and its ])roper use will be 

 found to be, in most cases, profitable. 



HOW TO SUPPLY THE PLANT-FOOD REQUIREMENTS 



Xitrogen. — Soils that show a need for applications of nitrogen can 

 usually be considered as deficient in organic matter, and when the or- 

 ganic matter is high the nitrogen content is also relatively high. Analy- 

 ses and field results have shown that the soils of the county are generally 

 low in nitrogen. One of the main problems for farmers is, therefore, to 

 supply this constituent in large quantities and as cheaply as possible. 

 Tlie chief means that must be used in supplying this constituent will be 

 by the growing of suitable leguminous crops on the land and the turn- 



