REVISION OF SOILS IN THE ALBEMARLE AREA. 



11 



areas are seen between Basic City and Lyndhurst on the south and 

 between Yancey and Islandford on the north. The drainage of the 

 soil is very good. Where properly supplied with organic matter the 

 soil works up into a good tilth, but with a low humus content it is 

 inclined to bake in dry weather, especially the silty or heavy phase. 



Much of this land is under cultivation, mostly to corn, grass, clover, 

 and wheat. Acreage yields under ordinary treatment range from 

 about 30 to 50 bushels of corn, 1 to 1 tons of hay (clover and timothy, 

 mixed), and 15 to 20 bushels of wheat. Commercial fertilizer is 

 sometimes used in light applications, usually about 300 pounds per 

 acre for wheat. Other crops seldom receive fertilizer on this or the 

 other soils of the region. Complete mixtures give very good results. 

 A brand analyzing 10 per cent phosphoric acid, 2 per cent nitrogen, 

 and 3 per cent potash would likely prove profitable in the case of the 

 general farm crops in acreage applications of 300 to 500 pounds, 

 especially where -the soil is liberally supplied with vegetable matter. 

 Lighter applications would be needed following a legume crop, such 

 as clover or cowpeas. Acreage applications of 1,500 to 2,000 pounds 

 of burned lime following the turning under of vegetable matter 

 would benefit the land. 



Irish potatoes should give very good results on the Waynesboro 

 loam, particularly with moderate applications of fertilizers contain- 

 ing a relatively high percentage of potash. Cabbage, cantaloupes, 

 spinach, lima beans, and a number of other vegetables could be 

 successfully grown. 



The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of the 

 soil and subsoil of this type: 



Mechanical analyse^ of Waynesboro loam. 



WAYNESBORO STONY LOAM. 



The Waynesboro stony loam is practically the same as the Waynes- 

 boro loam except in the greater abundance of stone. Water-rounded 

 rock is present on the surface and throughout the soil in amounts 

 sufficient to interfere with cultivation. Nevertheless, many of the 

 terrace fields include this soil. From some the stone has been picked 

 off and worked into fences or thrown aside. A typical boring near 

 Lyndhurst revealed a pale-yellow loam overlying a yellow friable 

 heavy loam to silt loam at a depth of about 6 inches, which in turn 

 rests upon a red friable sandy clay to silty clay at about 22 inches. 



