THE HAGERSTOWN LOAM. 7 



apple orchards in certain localities, and it is probable that for certain 

 varieties the Hagerstown loam constitutes one of the best soils for 

 apple production to be found in the limestone valley regions. This 

 phase of specialization will be discussed under the head of crop 

 adaptations. 



IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL EFFICIENCY. 



From what has already been said of the characteristics of the 

 Hagerstown loam it will be apparent that in general the present 

 efficiency of this soil may be rated very high. There are certain 

 areas, however, particularly in the more southern regions where the 

 type is found, in which the soil .efficiency might be improved, chiefly 

 by the application of those methods of tillage and soil treatment 

 which are common to the greater proportion of the type. 



There has been a tendency in northern Alabama and in southern 

 Tennessee to plant too large an acreage of this soil continuously 

 to cotton or to corn. If total crop production throughout a long 

 period of years is to be considered, it would be better, even in these 

 locations where cotton growing is climatically possible, to adopt a 

 rotation in which cotton and corn should take their proper place as 

 the hoed crops in the rotation, to be followed by cowpeas or a small 

 grain, and such crops in turn to be followed by seeding down to grasses 

 among which clover should have an important place. Such a change 

 in the cropping system upon this soil type would tend to prevent soil 

 erosion in the only locations where this is a serious problem upon the 

 Hagerstown loam. It will also result in a decided increase in the 

 yields of the money crops included in the rotation. 



In general the Hagerstown loam is adequately and efficiently 

 tilled. In some localities, however, the gradual increasing of the 

 depth of plowing is to be recommended, until the brown loamy 

 surface soil has been increased in depth to 8 or 10 inches. This modi- 

 fication of the surface soil characteristics is not difficult, provided a 

 little care is taken to incorporate organic matter and to plow about 1 

 inch deeper each year that the soil is broken. This necessity only 

 exists over a small proportion of the entire area of the type. 



In general, the drainage of the Hagerstown loam is adequate in all 

 areas where it occurs. 



It is only upon the more sloping and rolling areas of the Hagerstown 

 loam, in the more southern locations where rainfall is heavy, that 

 protection from erosion is usuaUy required. The very simple expe- 

 dients of contour farming, with the establishment of the few terraces 

 left in grass, will usually meet all the requirements for protection on 

 this type. This is especially the case where a proper rotation, includ- 

 ing two or three years in grass during a part of the rotation is prac- 

 ticed. The ease with which a clover seeding is secured and the particu- 



