THE CECIL CLAY. 7 



Not only is deep and thorough tillage required, but the incorpora- 

 tion of organic matter, particularly coarse and strawy manures, also 

 affects the stiff tenacious structure of the soil favorably. Even if 

 proper tillage is successful in establishing favorable structural con- 

 ditions, such as granulation and the proper loosening up of the soils, 

 these conditions may not be maintained against heavy rainfall unless 

 there is an adequate amount of organic matter mixed with the mineral 

 matter, in order to retain this structure when it has once been ob- 

 tained. It is therefore desirable that clover sod, cowpea vines, or 

 some other form of green manure should be turned into the surface 

 soil at least once during the regular crop rotation. Wherever possi- 

 ble, considerable amounts of the stable and yard manures should also 

 be applied in advance of any hoed crop. 



Even when the surface soil of the Cecil clay has been well pre- 

 pared and well manured for the production of intertilled crops, it is 

 frequently the case that summer showers, which moisten only the 

 surface layer of the soil, will bring about a caked and sun-cracked 

 condition of the surface half inch in the cultivated field. When- 

 ever this condition arises the evaporation of moisture from the sur- 

 face soil and even from the subsoil goes on rapidly, and it is essential 

 that as soon as possible after summer rains tillage implements should 

 be used, in order to break up the surface crust. It is not desirable 

 to use the small-sized turnplows for this purpose, but instead some 

 form of spiked-tooth cultivator, set to run shallow, should be em- 

 ployed. Failure to observe this requirement of the soil has given 

 it the reputation of being somewhat droughty and uncertain in the 

 more southern cotton-growing sections. 



In nearly every area where the Cecil clay has been mapped the 

 necessity for this general line of treatment has been clearly shown. 

 In practically every area there has been a widespread discrepancy 

 between the crop yields reported by the best and most careful farmers 

 and those obtained by the farmers who have failed to observe the 

 precautions mentioned. Within relatively short distances, in nearly 

 all areas, fields exist, the poorest of which will not give yields one- 

 third as great as upon nearby fields where the proper tillage of the 

 soil and the adequate restoration of organic matter have been prac- 

 ticed. 



The cost of such proper treatment and such reasonable care of the 

 Cecil clay is so low and the rewards which are secured from them are 

 so great that every farmer should give careful attention to the im- 

 provement of soil condition and soil efficiency through the proper 

 handling of the soil itself. No expensive fertilizers are required no 

 unusual enginering methods are requisite; only the practice of the 

 best methods of plowing, harrowing, cultivating, and manuring, 

 which are known in each section and in each county where the type 

 occurs. 



