6 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



placed at a depth not less than 3 feet below the surface. The smaller 

 tile are sufficiently large for lines of high gradient, but with less 

 slope larger tile should be used. The cost per acre of such im- 

 provement will, of course, vary under different conditions, but should 

 not exceed $15 to $20 in the average case. The improvement of 

 the drainage resulting is of great importance in permitting the 

 earlier preparation of the land for seeding and in the prevention of 

 loss of the crop through the rotting of seed, particularly in the more 

 northern areas where the type is developed. 



LIMITATIONS UPON SPECIAL CROPS. 



In general the Carrington silt loam is better suited by its inherent 

 properties and climatic surroundings to the production of the gen- 

 eral farm crops than to special cropping. In some areas the pro- 

 duction of sugar beets upon this soil has been attempted in an ex- 

 perimental way and the crops grown were satisfactory both as to 

 tonnage produced "and the sugar content of the beets. The chief 

 difficulty in the extension of the production of this crop under ordi- 

 nary eastern farm conditions has arisen from the large amount of 

 labor required. Where sugar-beet factories have been established in 

 the region the Carrington silt loam might well be utilized for the 

 production of a small acreage of beets in conjunction with other crops. 



Near some of the larger cities the lower-lying and artificially 

 drained areas of the Carrington silt loam have been used to a small 

 extent for the production of cabbage. The yields secured and the 

 profits returned have been satisfactory. 



In all of the more southern areas of its occurrence the Carrington 

 silt loam has been utilized for the production of apples, pears, and 

 cherries for home use. The more rolling and ridged portions of 

 the type, where both air and water drainage are ample, might be 

 used for commercial apple orchards. The greater part of its area 

 is not so well suited to the production of the tree fruits, and the 

 type can not be recommended as a general orcharding soil. 



The Carrington silt loam is therefore better suited to the general 

 farm crops than to the production of any specialties. 



EXTENT OP OCCUPATION. 



In all of the areas where it has been encountered the Carrington 

 silt loam has been occupied for agricultural purposes almost to the 

 limit of its total extent. Practically all of the type was originally 

 prairie land and only limited portions of it, in the more eastern 

 States, were timbered. The first stages of occupation were for graz- 

 ing the native prairie grasses, followed by the production of grain, 

 chiefly spring wheat and corn. In all of the older settled communi- 



