THE MIAMI CLAY LOAM. 9 



crops, besides constituting a danger in the cultivation of the inter- 

 tilled crops through the breaking down of the young plants. Thor- 

 ough harrowing, preferably with the disk harrow, will frequently 

 serve to break up the surface clods, and some such tillage implement 

 is required for the perfect preparation of the land. 



LIMITATIONS UPON SPECIAL CROPS. 



There are few special crops which are suited to production upon 

 the Miami clay loam, and the best types of agriculture conducted 

 upon this soil are those embodying the production of grain and grass 

 and the utilization of these for dairying and stock feeding. Upon 

 the more rolling portions, especially where the low hills of the mo- 

 rainal belt are to be found, apple orcharding may be undertaken 

 upon a small scale. Even in such areas the heavy texture of the 

 soil and the dense subsoil limit the varieties which may be produced. 

 Pears constitute the only other orchard fruit that is well suited to a 

 soil of such heavy texture. 



Tobacco is produced upon the Miami clay loam in southern and 

 southwestern Ohio upon areas which are particularly well drained, 

 which have been heavily manured and fertilized, and which have 

 been brought into excellent mechanical condition by careful tillage. 

 These constitute practically the only special crops which are suited 

 to production upon the Miami clay loam, both because of its textural 

 peculiarities and because of its climatic location. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



The Miami clay loam, locally known as the "maple land" or the 

 "walnut land," from the dominant species of the native hardwood 

 trees, was early sought for clearing and settlement during the pioneer 

 days in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The type supported a heavy 

 growth of a great variety of hardwood trees. Throughout Ohio it 

 bore forests of oak, maple, beech, basswood, walnut, poplar, cherry, 

 ash, elm, hickory, black gum, buckeye, and ironwood. In locali- 

 ties where the maple or walnut prevailed, the type early attained 

 a considerable reputation for its fertility and sustained crop-pro- 

 ducing power. In general the lands occupied by a prevalent beech 

 forest were not so highly esteemed, while the lands occupied by the 

 black gum and elm usually indicated low-lying areas within the 

 type which did not possess natural drainage adequate to permit of 

 their immediate occupation. 



These timbered lands throughout the east-central States were 

 first sought for pioneer occupation, not only because of the preva- 

 lence of the timber suitable for the building of all farm structures 

 and of fences, but also because the open prairies and glades were 



95211 Cm. 3111 2 



