THE WABASH CLAY. 13 



undoubtedly arisen from the fact that early maturing varieties of 

 cotton could be grown which would produce at least some part of a 

 crop before the cotton was seriously affected by the weevil. This 

 expedient of growing early maturing varieties is not nearly so appli- 

 cable in controlling the weevil on the alluvial bottom soils, and par- 

 ticularly upon the heavy clay types like the Wabash and the Trinity 

 clay. In consequence, other methods of combating the weevil must 

 be devised for this and similar soil types. It may be possible that, 

 at least temporarily, considerable proportions of the acreage of the 

 Wabash clay in the cotton-growing States may need to be devoted to 

 other crops than cotton. For this purpose corn is suggested as one 

 of the best crops. The yields are high, and if varieties suited to the 

 climatic conditions are selected 40, 50, and even 60 bushels per acre 

 may be anticipated where the crop is given proper tillage. With the 

 prevailing high prices of corn in the almost exclusively cotton-grow- 

 ing regions, where this type occurs, the crop should become decidedly 

 profitable and able to compete even with cotton as a great staple 

 crop. Where irrigation facilities are available in these southern 

 communities rice may be grown upon the Wabash clay to excellent 

 advantage. The production of this crop would require some outlay 

 for the proper embankment of the fields to provide for flooding, 

 and in many instances would also require the establishment of pump- 

 ing machinery to draw water from adjacent rivers or bayous for 

 flooding the land. The existence of artesian wells of considerable 

 capacity in many of the bottom-land areas should in certain localities 

 provide a cheap and feasible method for the irrigation of the rice 

 fields. 



In the regions south of Baton Rouge, in the Mississippi Delta, the 

 Wabash clay constitutes one of the best sugar came soils of the sec- 

 tion. The sugar cane yields from 25 to 30 tons per acre, and is even 

 more valuable than cotton as a staple crop for production upon this 

 type. Climatic limitations alone prevent the considerable extension 

 of cane growing to the northward upon the Wabash clay. 



In the vicinity of New Orleans large areas of the Wabash clay are 

 used for the production of market-garden crops, particularly egg 

 plant, tomatoes, and cabbages. Additional areas, somewhat more 

 remote from the city, are utilized for the production of grass to sup- 

 port a flourishing dairy industry. 



It has been abundantly proved through the efforts of individual 

 planters, and particularly of the Louisiana Experiment Station at 

 Baton Rouge, that the Wabash clay is well suited to the production of 

 alfalfa. There is a very necessary limitation, however, upon the 

 production of this crop. Alfalfa is a taprooted plant which sends 

 the main root rapidly to considerable depths into the soil and subsoil 

 wherever conditions are favorable. Consequently only those areas 

 of the Wabash clay may be selected for alfalfa production where the 



