THE WABASH CLAY. 15 



Owing to its fine texture, its low-lying position, and lack of natural 

 drainage only small areas of the Wabash clay are cultivated in the 

 more northern States, while a larger proportion of the type is culti- 

 vated in the leveed districts, particularly in Mississippi and Loui- 

 siana. The remainder of the type is chiefly forested to hardwoods 

 with an undergrowth of wild grasses in the Northern States and of 

 switch cane and saw palmetto in the southern latitudes. 



Corn is the principal crop produced upon the Wabash clay in all 

 of the northern areas, yields ranging from 30 to 75 bushels per acre. 

 Spring wheat is also grown wherever possible, with yields of from 

 20 to 40 bushels to the acre. Oats are produced to a limited extent 

 and yield heavy crops. 



In the Southern States the Wabash clay is one of the best of the 

 alluvial bottom-land soils for the production of cotton, which averages 

 yields in excess of one-half bale per acre, with not infrequent crops of 

 1 bale per acre over considerable areas. Yields of 2 bales per acre 

 have occasionally been reported. These crops are produced without 

 the use of commercial fertilizers. Only a small portion of the type is 

 planted to corn in these localities, but where this crop is grown the 

 returns range from 30 to 50 bushels per acre. 



South of Baton Rouge sugar cane is the most important crop, 

 yielding from 25 to 30 tons per acre. Rice is grown to a limited 

 extent, and large areas of the type still unreclaimed may be devel- 

 oped into valuable rice soil by the erection of proper embankments 

 and the installation of irrigation machinery. 



The only improvement necessary to bring large additional areas 

 under cultivation is the construction of proper embankments or 

 levees, together with the establishment of adequate drainage, prefer- 

 ably through open-ditch systems. The cost of such reclamation is 

 high, but the fertility of the soil and its excellent adaptation to the 

 production of some of the most valuable staple crops will make such 

 investment profitable. 



The Wabash clay is an excellent grass soil in practically all of the 

 localities where it occurs. In the northern regions timothy, redtop, 

 and the clovers give large yields upon protected and well-drained 

 areas, while in similar locations in the south alfalfa;, white clover, 

 Bermuda grass, and lespedeza prove valuable crops. 



Probably not more than 25 per cent of the total extent of the 

 Wabash clay is now reclaimed and under cultivation, and vast areas 

 of this valuable type are yet to be developed. 



Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., July H, 1911. 



