30 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



In addition to the liberal use of stable manure, many growers apply 

 from 250 to 500 pounds per acre of some commercial fertilizer high 

 in potash. Very few crops are properly sprayed, and this practice 

 should be extended wherever potato growing is undertaken upon a 

 commercial scale. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



The entire area of the Volusia silt loam has long been occupied 

 for agricultural purposes. This soil was cleared from its heavy stand 

 of mixed hardwood and evergreen trees in the pioneer days and 

 occupied for general farming purposes and cattle raising. Some 

 sheep were kept upon the majority of farms, the farm being divided 

 between tilled land, pasture, and considerable stretches of forest. 

 The merchantable timber has been cut from practically all of the 

 type at present, and only small woodlots upon the steeper slopes re- 

 main. It is probable that fully GO per cent of the Volusia silt loam 

 is at least nominally under tillage, about BO per cent is in pasture, 

 and the remainder is occupied by partially wooded tracts, lying upon 

 (he steeper slopes. 



The improvement in the agricultural efficiency of this soil must take 

 the form of better cultivation of the land now in farms and of the 

 rejuvenation of the pastures which occupy a large proportion of the 

 type. Drainage, liming, the restoration of organic matter to the soil, 

 and the adoption of proper crop rotations which shall make use of 

 the crops best adapted to the type are the most essential steps for its 

 more profitable occupation. Coupled with this attention to the soil, 

 some form of animal husbandry, either dairying, where market 

 facilities are favorable, or the feeding of beef cattle or sheep, in the 

 more remote locations, should become general. 



The restoration of profitable grasses to the badly neglected pas- 

 tures upon the type is essential to its improvement. In many in- 

 stances the old pastures must be plowed before a profitable reseeding 

 can be obtained. In other cases the cutting of brush, sweet fern 

 and other Aveeds and the harrowing, liming, and reseeding of the 

 pastures will be sufficient to improve their conditions. Timothy, 

 redtop, Canada blue grass, and alsike and red clover are all avail- 

 able for the mixing of a good pasture combination. Brome grass 

 should be tried alone and in mixtures for pasturage purposes and 

 might be valuable for mowing lands. 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



Owing to its physical characteristics, its high altitude, and its 

 northern location, the Volusia silt loam is better suited to hay than 

 to any other farm crops. Fully 60 per cent of the tilled area of 

 the type is annually devoted to grass growing for hay with an addi- 



