SOILS OF FENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 15 



flat areas, the drainage of which has been so poor as to favor the 

 accumulation of black organic matter in the soil. The soil is a 

 black fine sandy loam, high in organic matter, underlain at a depth 

 of from 5 to about 15 inches by a pale-yellow to gray fine sandy 

 loam, which quickly passes into a plastic, clammy, fine sandy clay, 

 mottled drab, gray, and reddish-yellow, and usually saturated with 

 water. In places the subsoil consists of a grayish, sticky, fine sand, 

 locally styled " quicksand." 



The timbered phase supports a growth of pine and bay, with a 

 dense undergrowth of gallbarry bushes. Much of the treeless or 

 savanna phase is heavily sodded with native grasses. 



For successful utilization the Portsmouth fine sandy loam requires 

 thorough drainage. This can be accomplished by open ditches, 

 placed at intervals of 75 to 150 feet, according to the texture of the 

 subsoil. Water stands on this land, especially the savanna phase, 

 for a considerable time after heavy rainfalls. 



The Portsmouth fine sandy loam, when drained, is admirably 

 adapted to corn, strawberries, and forage crops. A number of truck 

 crops, as cabbage, onions, and probably celery, would do well. Cot- 

 ton, potatoes, etc., can be grown with fair success. 



Tuberose, dahlia, canna, caladium, and gladiolus bulbs are grown 

 on this character of land in Duplin County. These plants require 

 heavy fertilization. That phase of the type underlain by a fine 

 sandy clay is the more productive. 



Commercial fertilizer in moderate applications gives good results. 

 Brands relatively high in potash and phosphoric acid seem to be the 

 most effective. Applications of lime will aid in securing a favorable 

 soil condition. An application of from 25 to 35 bushels per acre is 

 generally sufficient for five or six years. As with the Norfolk soils, 

 a crop rotation including the legumes, especially cowpeas and velvet 

 and soy beans, is advisable, and after several years of cultivation it 

 is necessary to plow under an occasional green crop in order to main- 

 tain favorable organic matter content. 



LESS EXTENSIVE TYPES. 



There are several other distinct types of soil in Pender County, 

 among which are the Norfolk very fine sandy loam and Portsmouth 

 very fine sandy loam. These types are so closely associated with and 

 so near the corresponding coarser members of these series in their 

 crop adaptations and requisite methods of cultivation that it is not 

 considered necessary to describe them in detail. The Norfolk very 

 fine sandy loam is generally a little better producer of the general 

 farm crops than the Norfolk fine sandy loam and vegetables average 

 somewhat later in maturity. 



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