38 The Bulletin 



organic matter, lime will generally be fonnd to be essential for best 

 yields and most profitable returns. Even with those soils high in calcium 

 content like the Iredell Loam, it will no doubt prove beneficial in all 

 cases to make applications of this constituent, as the lime contained in 

 this type of soil is largely in the form of silicates, and does not act 

 in this combination in the same beneficial way that lime in the form of 

 ground limestone, shells, and marl does in neutralizing the acidity of 

 the soil when applied and in making the soil sweet and more favorable 

 for the growing of most leguminous and other crops. To build up the 

 fertility of the soils of the county in the most substantial way from one 

 to two tons of limestone or the equivalent of some other suitable form 

 of lime per acre will have to be used every four to five years. 



HOW TO SUPPLY OEGANIC MATTER IN SOILS. 



By organic matter we mean the decaying residues of plant life such 

 as roots, stems, and leaves, and the remains of animal life, such as 

 insects and worms, in the soil. When soils are well supplied with such 

 material, they are dark to black in color even when dry. Such soils 

 are also fertile and productive when other factors, such as a good sup- 

 ply of plant food and drainage, are present naturally or supplied. 



There are two practical ways to add organic matter to soils: 



1. By growing and plowing under such crops as crimson, red and 

 sweet clover, soy and velvet bean vines, including other crop residues, 

 such as corn and cotton stalks, rye, grass and weeds. 



2. By applying barnyard manure, or by allowing it to accumulate on 

 pastured land. 



In humid sections such as Union County, especially when cultivated 

 crops are grown annually on the land, the decay of organic matter in 

 the soil is very rapid, and in order to maintain the supply, all upland 

 soils particularly should receive annually such material at the rate of 

 at least two tons of air-dry material per acre. 



Eye, weeds, cotton, and corn stalks, pine straw, woods-mould, and 

 refuse from barnyards are valuable sources of organic matter; but le- 

 gumes such as crimson, red, and sweet clover, soy and velvet bean 

 vines, are more valuable, since they take nitrogen out of the air, and 

 when plowed under increase the nitrogen supply of the soil, provided 

 the soil is sweet and the legumes are well inoculated. 



FERTILIZER MIXTURES TO USE FOR DIFFERENT CROPS. 



For the average types of soil occurring in the county low in phos- 

 phoric, acid it is recommended that for cotton 400 to 600 pounds of a 

 mixture containing 10 to 32 per cent available phosphoric acid and 21/0 

 to 4 per cent ammonia be used. When the price of actual potash is 

 not greater than 5 to 6 cents per pound it will in most cases prove 

 profitable to use at least 2 per cent of this constituent. However, when 



