6 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



was early sought for the production of corn, wheat, and grass, and 

 certain special crops have been produced upon it with success as 

 transportation facilities and market demands increased. \Vhile there 

 is considerable variation in the yields produced, owing to more or 

 less efficient management, it is naturally an excellent soil for general 

 farming. 



TILLAGE REQUIREMENTS. 



It is apparent from the textural characteristics of the Sassafras silt 

 loam, from its level to gently undulating surface topography, and 

 from the classes of crops best suited for production upon this soil 

 that the equipment required for its most economical tillage will dif- 

 fer very materially from the equipment to be used upon such other 

 Coastal Plain soils as the Norfolk fine sand or sandy loam, which are 

 more easily worked and are not so universally planted to the general 

 farm crops. The Sassafras silt loam should be plowed to a depth of 

 8 or 9 inches, and if the natural soil is not so deep as this the depth 

 should be gradually increased from year to year. 



It would be practically impossible to secure such adequate tillage 

 of the type with light weight one-horse or one-mule outfits, which are 

 perfectly adequate for the handling of such soils as the Xorfolk 

 sandy loam or fine sandy loam, or others of that class. Economy in 

 the conduct of tillage operations demands that at least two-horse 

 teams where each animal will weigh from 1,300 to 1,500 pounds 

 should be used, and the most economical working of land of this 

 class would justify the four-horse hitch, which is used to special ad- 

 vantage upon the heavy general farming soils, such as the limestone 

 soils of Maryland and Pennsylvania and the prairie soils of the 

 Central States. 



For the same reasons the lightweight turning plow used upon the 

 more sandy soils of the Coastal Plain is totally inadequate for the 

 proper tillage of the Sassafras silt loam. In its place there should 

 be used either the one or two gang sulky plow, or the two or three 

 blade disk plow. These implements drawn by adequate horsepower 

 are capable of turning and thoroughly pulverizing the surface soil 

 to the required depth of 8 or 9 inches. Less powerful equipment, 

 either of team or tools, is not competent to bring out the best qualities 

 and the full efficiency of the soil. 



Both the soil and subsoil require frequent stirring, and it is de- 

 sirable to use such implements as the disk harrow, the spring-tootl 

 harrow, or the spike-tooth harrow to secure this preparation of 

 land. Wherever possible, power machinery should also be used 

 the planting and intertillage of crops. 



In the same way that heavier teams and tools are required for the 

 proper tillage of the Sassafras silt loam, so also are more expensive 



