THE HAGERSTOWN CLAY. 5 



In absolute elevation above sea level the surface of the type varies 

 greatly in the different areas where it is found. In general the 

 greater part of the type is found at altitudes ranging from 850 to 

 1.000 feet, although the ridges in some sections of the valleys where it 

 is found will rise to altitudes in excess of 1,000 feet. These minor 

 irregularities of elevation are rarely very great and the lower-lying 

 portions of the type in any single area will usually be at an altitude 

 of 200 to 300 feet lower than the highest occurrences of the type. 

 Numerous steep slopes and rock ledges found within the area of 

 Hagerstown clay frequently cause a considerable proportion of the 

 type to be used only for pasturage or left in forest. In this respect 

 the type is at something of a disadvantage when compared with the 

 rolling or nearly level surface of the Hagerstown loam. 



The natural surface drainage of the type is usually good and 

 inclined to be excessive. Nevertheless, on account of the stiff, plastic 

 condition of the surface soil and subsoil, water is held within the soil 

 mass, and if proper tillage methods are employed an abundance of soil 

 moisture may be stored for the maturing of crops. Where the surface 

 soil has a depth of only 2 or 3 inches, the type is inclined to be some- 

 what droughty because of poor natural facilities for the absorption of 

 rain water. 



In all the more southern areas of its occurrence the heavy annual 

 precipitation causes considerable erosion of the surface soil. In such 

 regions a large proportion of the surface of the type has been so 

 denuded of friable surface soil that not over 15 per cent of the total 

 area can be used for the cultivation of crops. The prevention of this 

 erosion is one of the serious problems connected with the tillage of 

 the type in all of the more southern areas. 



LIMITATIONS IN* USE. 



The Hagerstown clay, because of its characteristic stiff texture 

 and condition, is somewhat limited in its crop adaptation. The 

 almost universal experience of farmers who are dealing with this 

 type seems to be that corn is not so well suited to production upon 

 this soil as upon the Hagerstown loam. There is some exception to 

 this rule, however, in that areas of Hagerstown clay which possess 

 a total depth of 8 to 10 inches of reasonably mellow surface soil 

 are certainly well adapted to corn production, giving yields ranging 

 from 50 to 75 bushels per acre. In general, however, the surface soil 

 is somewhat too heavy to constitute an ideal seed bed for the corn 

 crop. In consequence, wheat and grass are better suited to this type 

 and large yields of both of these crops are produced upon it. This 

 limitation in the use of the type is inherent with the soil itself and 

 may not usually be changed except at a considerable expense in the 

 tillage of the soil. 



