14 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



SUMMARY. 



The Clarksville silt loam is one of the most extensive upland 

 limestone soils, being exceeded in total area only by the Clarksville 

 stony loam- a type of subordinate agricultural value. 



The fine silty texture of the surface soil and the stiff and compact 

 nature of the subsoil render the Clarksville silt loam better suited to 

 the production of small grains and grass than to the production of 

 staple crops, with few exceptions. 



Corn, wheat, oats, and grass are raised at all altitudes over all 

 portions of the type. 



The dark export tobacco of the western Tennessee and Kentucky 

 district is particularly well suited- to the better drained areas of the 

 Clarksville silt loam, and satisfactory yields are secured over many 

 thousands of acres of the type. It is the best type for the production 

 of this tobacco in the Kentucky-Tennessee region. 



Cotton is only produced at the lower altitudes in the more southern 

 regions where the type occurs, and the extension of its production 

 can scarcely be recommended. 



In the Ozark region of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas 

 extensive apple orchard plantings have been made upon areas of the 

 Clarksville silt loam which possess adequate air and water drainage. 

 The Ben Davis is the principal variety used, while several minor 

 varieties are also fairly well suited to the type. 



In this same region, and also in central Tennessee, strawberries 

 are coming to be an important crop upon the Clarksville silt loam. 

 In the central Tennessee area also, cantaloupes are grown upon such 

 portions of the type as have a deep friable surface soil and fairly 

 well-drained subsoil. 



With the exception of the areas devoted to tobacco growing, or to 

 apple orcharding, the farm equipment used upon the Clarksville silt 

 loam is scarcely adequate to the tillage of such a heavy and compact 

 soil. Drainage and better tillage, together with the incorporation of 

 organic matter and the liming of the soil, would give increased crop 

 yields. 



Owing to the dense nature of the subsoil and to a liability of lack 

 of moisture during midsummer, wheat is better suited to this type 

 than corn. 



Less than 50 per cent of the entire area of the type is at present 

 under cultivation, the remainder furnishing upland pasture and a 

 supply of oak cross-ties and firewood from the rather sparse forest 

 growth. 



Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., April 25, 1911. 



