10 SOILS OP FENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 



undeveloped. This is true not only in Fender County, but over a 

 very large part of eastern North Carolina. There were mapped 

 in the adjoining county of Duplin 180,032 acres of the Norfolk fine 

 sandy loam, representing 34.2 per cent of the area of that county. 

 The soil conditions in Pender County are quite similar to those of 

 Duplin, and the relative extent of this type is probably about the 

 same in the two counties. 



There are two distinct phases of this soil, the result largely of dif- 

 ference in drainage conditions brought about by variations in topog- 

 raphy. The type is found along or near stream slopes, in flat to 

 undulating areas favored by wide reaching drainage systems, and on 

 the slight ridges is a rather loose grayish loamy fine sand to fine sandy 

 loam. There is a gradual increase in the content of fine material, as 

 well as a gradual change to yellow color downward, until at a depth 

 of about 8 to 20 inches, or at an average depth of 16 inches, a bright 

 yellow comparatively friable fine sandy clay is reached. There are 

 occasional areas in which clay is encountered at a greater depth or 

 anywhere above 36 inches. The better drainage condition obtain- 

 ing along or near the slopes of streams has in places given rise to 

 a decidedly reddish cast in the subsoil, the result of the better oxida- 

 tion arising from more thorough aeration. Such areas are always 

 more productive than the average of the type. The color of the 

 soil under timber and in newly cleared fields averages much darker 

 than that which has been under cultivation for several years. This 

 difference in color is due to the more rapid depletion of the dark- 

 colored organic matter with the better aeration brought about by 

 cultivation, and also to the commingling of the darker upper soil 

 with the lighter colored lower material brought up by plowing. 



Both the texture and structure of the subsoil are well suited to the 

 conservation of moisture, and with proper management, particularly 

 the maintenance of a favorable supply of organic matter and fre- 

 quent shallow cultivation during dry seasons, crops are enabled to 

 draw from this reservoir enough moisture for continuous and steady 

 growth even during protracted droughts. On those areas, however, 

 where the clay lies at a depth much below 18 inches crops like corn, 

 melons, and cowpeas are apt to be injured by dry weather unless 

 there is a high organic matter content. 



The timber growth is mainly shortleaf and longleaf pine, with 

 here and there, especially near streams and on the ridges, a sprink- 

 ling of oak, hickory, and other hardwoods. Huckleberries and wire 

 grass are common. 



Under present conditions of drainage this is the best all-round 

 soil in the county, needing only to be cleared and broken to be in 

 readiness for agriculture. It is well adapted to cotton, corn, pea- 



[Cir. 20] 



