2l8 WHEAT SOILS OV TH]-: ALEXANDRIA DIVISION. 



Dr. H. W. Wiley* deals with the adaptation of 

 ri soil to different crops, which, he says, depends largely on the 

 percentage of the silt classes of soil ingredients in the .soil. He 

 then proceeds to discuss different types of Maryland soils, which, 

 for comparison with the tahle just above, may be designated 

 by the letters A to F. 



Fine Coarse Medium Fine Very tine 

 gravel. sand. sand. sand. sand. Silt. Clay. 



A ... ■] . . ■ 5 • . . 40 ... 28 ... 12 ... 10 ... 4 



B ... O ... 2 ... 29 ... 41 ... TT ... 7 ... Q 



C ... 2 ... 6 ... 14 ... 8 ... 16 ... 39 ... 15 



D ... ... i . . . ^ ■ • • 24 ... 3.3 ... \g ... 23 



E ... o ... o ... T ... 4 ... 12 ... 49 ... 34 



F ... I ... I ... T ... I ... 7 ... 43 ... ,46 



Comparison of this table with that immediately preceding 

 shows a fair resemblance between A and No. 5, and a closer 

 resemblance between B and No. 17. The remaining four soils 

 (juoted from Dr. Wiley are each distinctly heavier than any of 

 the Alexandria soils. Now Dr. Wiley says of A and B that 

 they are 



Altogether too li,^ltl in texture for the profitable pri)duotion of wheat, 

 and it would cost altogether too much to improve them so that even a 

 moderate yield of wheat could be obtained. 



C represents a Southern Maryland tobacco soil. Dr. Wiley says 

 of it:— 



Wheat is commonly raised on these i(4)accii lands to get the after- 

 advantage of the high manuring. . . The linest t()l)acco lands are. 

 however, too light in texture for the profital)le production of wheat. 



This means that Dr. Wiley considers a soil which is heavier than 

 any of the Alexandria soils still too light for wheat production. 

 D is a tyi)e of the wheat soils of Southern Alaryland. It 

 will l)e observed that it contains 75 ])er cent of very fine sand. 

 silt, and clay, whereas the heaviest of the cultivated Alexandria 

 .soils contains only 45 per cent. Yet of D, Dr. Wiley says :— 



These soils represent about the lit^litesl te.vliire upon which ulieal can 

 be economically produced undkr the clim.\tic conditions which theke 

 PREVAH.. They contain from 18 to 25 per cent, of clay, and are much 

 more retentive of moisture than the best tobacco lands. 77n'.s- tyfe is 

 about the limit of profitable wheat production. These so'ls will maintain 

 about 12 per cent, of water during the dry season. 



!n order to ascertain how much water the .Mexandria soils can 

 retain. in\estigations on the s])ot would be necessary. 



I'", represents the heavier wheat soils of Southern Maryland, 

 v/hich contain about 30 per cent, of clay. This soil is much more 

 retentive of moisture than I), and ])ro(lnces ver\' nmch larger 

 croi)S of wheat. 



V is a heavy calcareous soil, and is a strong and fertile wheat 

 land. 



♦"Principles and Practice of Agricultural .A.nalysis." 1 (Soils), 277- 

 280. 



