SOILS OF FENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 7 



The sandy soils for most crops need more potash than the heavier 

 soils, while larger quantities of phosphoric acid are usually necessary 

 to hasten maturity on those lands where the clay subsoil comes near 

 the surface. The poorly drained Portsmouth soils are greatly bene- 

 fited by applications of lime to correct acidity or other unfavorable 

 conditions developed through lack of proper aeration. The well- 

 drained soils may need lime occasionally, but as a rule the dark- 

 colored, poorly drained types and newly cleared lands are more in 

 need of this material. A good method of applying lime is to make 

 a broadcast surface application following the plowing under of a 

 green crop of vegetation. The well-drained soils, particularly the 

 light-colored, sandy types, are very often deficient in organic matter. 

 For best results with these it is necessary that the supply of organic 

 matter should be replenished at intervals varying according to tex- 

 tural and structural conditions. Soil well supplied with organic 

 matter always possesses a more loamlike tilth than that deficient 

 in organic matter, conserves moisture better, and is less subject to 

 baking and crusting. Fertilizers are usually more beneficial and 

 lasting on the soils with favorable organic matter content. 



Notwithstanding that excellent ready-mixed brands can be bought, 

 a more general practice of home mixing of fertilizers can not be too 

 strongly urged. Farmers should keep careful records of mixtures 

 used upon various crops, taking also into account the weather con- 

 ditions, the soil, and the soil treatment. It is not necessary to make 

 plot tests, although this could be easily done in a small way for 

 experimental purposes, but the growing of every crop should be con- 

 sidered an experiment, the results of particular manurial applications, 

 crop rotations, methods of soil preparation, and cultivation being 

 recorded for future guidance. Too many farmers change from one 

 fertilizer or method of soil treatment to another fertilizer or method 

 of soil treatment without taking into consideration or making any 

 allowance for variations in season or the use of different types of soil. 



A considerable portion of the flat areas of the Norfolk soils and 

 all of the Portsmouth types need artificial drainage. This can be 

 done effectively and economically by straightening and deepening the 

 drainage ways, supplementing these with canals to receive drainage 

 from main ditches and sublaterals. The requisite number of laterals 

 for a field will depend largely upon its evenness of surface, perme- 

 ability, and nearness of the subsoil to the surface. Some of the flat 

 savanna lands and considerable timbered areas having either a very 

 flat or somewhat hummocky surface should have laterals placed at 

 intervals of not over 100 feet. Most of the land, however, can be 

 effectively drained by ditches at intervals of from 50 to 100 yards, 

 while a great many small depressions or bays simply need a good out- 



[Clr. 20] 



