8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



those of the glacial lake region of the north-central States, that the 

 application of potash salts, particularly the muriate and kainit, 

 has given profitable results with all crops except potatoes. With 

 potatoes, it is usually considered best to use the sulphate of potash 

 upon these and other soils. 



Probably the best practice in the subjugation of such lands is to 

 plow the surface vegetable mold in the fall, allow it to become well 

 rotted during the fall and winter months and then, after a thorough 

 harrowing, to prepare for a general farm crop like corn, cotton, 

 cowpeas, or oats in more northern climates. After the production 

 of such crops for a period of one or two years it is possible to make 

 a more intensive use of the land for potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, celery, 

 or other special crop. 



In the more southern farm practice it has been found that the 

 application of lime, either the burned lime at a rate of about 1 ton 

 per acre or the ground limestone at the rate of 3 tons per acre, will 

 give increases in crop yields which are decidedly profitable. In the 

 case of the leguminous crops it is almost absolutely essential that *aw 

 swamp soils, high in organic matter, should be limed and that stable 

 manure should be applied before any large crops may be expected. 



THE USES OF SWAMP LAND. 



In many places along the Atlantic seacoast considerable areas of 

 Swamp have been ditched and reclaimed for agricultural use. Usu- 

 ally these lands are found in the Middle Atlantic section or in more 

 southern localities. Several notable instances exist in the eastern 

 part of North Carolina. These lands are nearly level. Their surface 

 is broken only by low ridges which rise from 2 to 5 feet above the 

 surrounding levels. The flat surface is frequently covered with water 

 for the greater part of the year. The elevation of these pocoson* 

 ranges from 10 to 50 feet above sea level and there is usually oppor- 

 tunity for the drainage of the area by gravity. Large main ditches 

 or canals are constructed from the center of the area to some large 

 outlet stream. These ditches serve as the outlet for a large number 

 of smaller open ditches. In some areas tile underdrainage is also 

 installed between the smaller lateral ditches. The pocosons are usu- 

 ally timbered and the heavily timbered areas are those which are 

 considered to have the greatest agricultural value. The surface soil 

 usually consists of a black or brownish spongy mass of vegetable 

 matter in various stages of decomposition. With this there is 

 mingled different proportions of fine earth, usually silt or clay. 

 The soil in its natural condition is filled with water, although during 

 particularly dry seasons it may become so dried out at the surface as 

 to burn. The subsoil is usually a clay or sandy clay not very differ- 



