CHAPTER XIII 

 CEREAL CULTIVATION EASTERN AREA 



ON the basis of certain differences in cereal environ- 

 ment previously discussed, it seems desirable, for the 

 proper presentation of the subject of cereal cultivation, 

 to consider the country as divided into three large areas, 

 from east to west : (1) the Eastern area, comprising all 

 of the United States and Canada from the Atlantic Ocean 

 to about the 96th meridian; (2) the Great Plains area, 

 extending from about the 96th meridian to the Rocky 

 Mountains proper; and (3) the Western area, including 

 the territory of the Great Basin and Pacific Coast. 



Every subject under the 'treatment of small cereals 

 as crops, constituting Part III, will be discussed for the 

 cereals wheat, oats, barley, and rye at the same time. 

 Afterward rice and buckwheat will be treated independ- 

 ently as to all subjects. 



327. Description. In the Eastern area, the rainfall 

 is fairly abundant throughout the year, but is propor- 

 tionally less in the growing season than in the Great Plains. 

 The eastern portion is largely timbered, and has usually 

 a shallow surface soil, which is acid and has little humus. 

 Excepting the corn belt (97), there is commonly a de- 

 ficiency in one or more of the chief plant-food constit- 

 uents. In the hilly districts, there is considerable trouble 

 from soil erosion. 



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