THE HOUSTON CLAY. 9 



five cuttings annually, averaging about 1 ton of hay to the cutting. 

 Some difficulty is experienced in curing the first crop, since it is ready 

 for harvest during the rainy portion of the spring months, but the 

 subsequent crops are matured at seasons which are usually favorable 

 for the drying out of the hay. 



The Houston clay and its related type, the Houston black clay, are 

 undoubtedly the best alfalfa soils of the "black prairie" regions in 

 Alabama and Mississippi, while these types are coming to be so recog- 

 nized in the more western occurrences in Texas. Since the region 

 is one which to the present time has not produced a sufficient amount 

 of forage for the sustenance of the work stock, good hay, like that 

 made from alfalfa, is always in demand, at prices ranging from $15 

 to $20 per ton. In consequence an acre well seeded to alfalfa con- 

 stitutes a more certain and usually a more valuable acre than the same 

 area planted either to cotton or corn. Considering the smaller 

 amount of hand labor requisite for tending and harvesting the alfalfa 

 crop, it is evident that the profits from alfalfa growing equal or 

 exceed those to be derived from cotton culture, even when yields of 

 the latter exceed one-half bale per acre. 



Winter oats are also grown to some extent upon the various areas 

 of the Houston clay. The yields when the grain is cut for thrashing 

 range from 25 to 35 bushels per acre. The oats are usually cut as 

 a forage crop. 



In northeastern Texas some winter wheat is also grown upon the 

 Houston clay, giving yields of 8 to 15 bushels per acre. The crop 

 is unusual. 



FARM EQUIPMENT. 



The Houston clay ordinarily occurs in association with other types 

 of soil, and the normal farm equipment of buildings, machinery, and 

 stock does not differ materially from that of the average cotton 

 plantation. In fact a considerable amount of difficulty in the man- 

 agement of this type has been experienced through the continued 

 attempt to till it by means of the one-horse or one-mule hitch, which 

 is adequate for the plowing and cultivation of the more sandy soils 

 prevalent through the Gulf States. The stiff, waxy nature of the 

 Houston clay does not lend itself to this treatment. In the more 

 progressive communities there is an increasing tendency toward the 

 use of the two or four mule hitch and of the disk plow and disk 

 harrow in the preparation of this land. It is not possible to procure 

 a properly granulated and thoroughly mellow seed bed with the 

 ordinary light-weight equipment used most commonly upon cotton 

 plantations. Heavier teams and better tools are required to bring 

 the Houston clay to its full degree of productivity. 



