12 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



is partially due to the lack of transportation and partially due to the 

 imperfect outlining of the climatic zone within which apple orchard- 

 ing is most successful. There remain thousands of acres in western 

 North Carolina, consisting of coves occupied by the Porters black 

 loam, which are still available at a low price for the planting of apple 

 orchards and of peaches. The present interest in horticultural 

 development will undoubtedly result in the searching out of these 

 localities within the next few years. 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



General farm crops. The Porters loam is the characteristic general 

 farming soil of the mountain region of western South Carolina and 

 western North Carolina. While general farming has not been de- 

 veloped to any high state of prosperity, still the principal cereal 

 crops and certain special crops are also produced to fair advantage. 

 In the lower and intermediate altitudes corn is an almost universal 

 crop. The yields vary greatly, dependent upon the amount of erosion 

 which the soil has locally experienced, and upon the amount of care 

 which has been exerted in the maintenance of organic matter in the 

 surface soil. In the North Carolina areas, at altitudes ranging from 

 1,250 to 2,500 feet above sea level, corn is a fairly successful crop, pro- 

 ducing from 12 to 30 bushels per acre. It is probable that these yields 

 might be doubled through the proper preparation and tillage of the 

 Porters loam, including chiefly the restoration of organic matter to 

 the soil. The use of all stable and yard manures in this connection 

 is highly to be recommended, and, as already pointed out, green crops 

 should frequently be turned under in order to maintain organic mat- 

 ter. It is probable also that the range in altitude of corn production 

 could be considerably increased if the flint varieties of corn were used 

 at the higher altitudes, since they are capable of reaching maturity in 

 a shorter growing period than that required by the dent varieties, 

 now chiefly grown. 



Winter wheat is also a crop generally raised in North Carolina 

 upon the Porters loam. The yields are extremely varied, ranging 

 from 8 to 20 bushels per acre with an average not in excess of 10 or 

 11 bushels. Oats are also produced, particularly at the higher alti- 

 tudes, giving fair yields, ranging from 20 to 30 bushels per acre, and 

 averaging about 25 bushels. 



These constitute the chief cereal crops, although buckwheat is 

 sometimes raised at the higher altitudes to a limited extent, and rye 

 is not infrequently sown in the place of wheat. 



The Porters loam is essentially an excellent grass soil at prac- 

 tically all altitudes where it occurs, especially upon the more sloping 

 areas which have been allowed to seed naturally to bluegrass and 

 redtop. An excellent pasture sod is maintained, while the artificial 



