8 SOILS OF THE EASTEBN UNITED STATES. 



depth of not less than 3 feet. These requirements give rise to the 

 rather high cost of adequate underdrainage of the type. 



The frequent incorporation of a reasonable amount of organic 

 matter in the surface soil is also requisite to maintain or to increase 

 the efficiency of the Miami clay loam. The prevalent systems of 

 farming upon the type are fairly adequate for this purpose in that 

 grass constitutes an important crop in the regular rotation followed 

 over practically the entire area of this soil. The plowing under of 

 the sod in the preparation of the land for corn or other hoed crops 

 assists in the maintenance of organic matter in the soil, w y hile the 

 keeping of live stock and of dairy cows upon the areas of this type 

 also renders possible the application of stable manure over a con- 

 siderable proportion of the arable acreage each year. The better 

 farmers throughout the section occupied by the Miami clay loam 

 practice these methods of organic matter restoration and are amply 

 repaid by maintained and even increased crop yields. 



In connection with the production of the grass crops, particularly 

 the clovers, the application of lime to this dense, compact soil is 

 found to produce excellent increases in the crop yields wherever it 

 has been properly attempted. Either finely ground limestone rock 

 or the burned stone-lime may be used for this purpose. In case the 

 powdered limestone is used, considerably larger applications are 

 required than in the case of the stone-lime. In the latter case appli- 

 cations of 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre produce paying increase in 

 the yield of clover hay. At least double this quantity of ground 

 limestone would need to be applied in order to secure the same 

 results. 



Another method for securing improvement in the crop yields of the 

 Miami clay loam would consist in the maintenance of the most 

 perfect tilth possible in the surface soil. The fine texture of the 

 surface soil gives rise to a tendency toward clodding and baking 

 unless the land is handled when the moisture conditions both in 

 surface soil and subsoil are particularly favorable. Plowing should 

 not be attempted either when the soil is thoroughly baked and har- 

 dened nor when it is wet and soft. In the former case large clods 

 are liable to be formed, which it is very difficult to break down into 

 favorable condition by any subsequent operations of tillage. In the 

 latter case both the surface soil and the subsoil at plow depth are 

 likely to become puddled and to form a "hardpan" or other unfa- 

 vorable physical condition for the processes of root growth. A little 

 care in the plowing of this land when it is in the condition of opt inn: in 

 moisture content will usually obviate both of these difficulties, 

 should be held in mind, moreover, by every owner of land of thi 

 character that the soil resources locked up in the baked and hi 

 dened clods are absolutely unavailable for the use of the grown 



