THE HOUSTON BLACK CLAY. 13 



yields of one-half to three-quarters of a ton per acre, while extensive 

 areas are annually grazed for the f attening of cattle. 



Practically all of the areas of the Houston black clay have been 

 occupied for some form of agricultural production. Where the rain- 

 fall is abundant, nearly every acre of the type is held at a high price 

 for the produfction of cotton, corn, and forage crops. With less rain- 

 fall large tracts of the Houston black clay have been occupied for 

 grazing purposes. Thus the development of the type must take the 

 form of more intensive agriculture upon lands already occupied 

 rather than the occupation of additional acreage. 



The Houston black clay is ordinarily well improved by substantial 

 dwelling houses and outbuildings. It is tilled through the use of the 

 heavier work stock and the two or four mule hitch. It has been 

 found that disk machinery, whether plow or cultivator, is better capa- 

 ble of handling this waxy soil than the ordinary mold-board form 

 of tillage machinery. 



The Houston black clay constitutes one of the most important 

 general farming soils of the western Gulf coast region. 



Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., October 30, 1911. 



