SOILS IN THE VICINITY OF BRUNSWICK, GA. 



15 



to a depth of at least 3 feet. At various depths in the subsoil there 

 is sometimes a change of color to yellowish or greenish yellow. 



As the line of contact with contiguous sandy land is approached 

 there is a gradual increase in depth of the lighter surface mantle, 

 until the type grades first into sandy loam and finally into sand. 



The Portsmouth clay was encountered 5 or 6 miles northwest of 

 Brunswick. It occurs in stream, old drainage-way or sea-arm depres- 

 sions usually as comparatively narrow strips. Marl was found under- 

 lying an area of this soil at a depth ranging from about 15 to 24 inches. 

 It is possible that this calcareous material may have influenced in 

 some way the character of the type. The Portsmouth clay owes its 

 origin to deposition of fine material from overflow water or from 

 water that covered the depressions when lying at relatively lower 

 levels with respect to tide water. 



By turning under vegetation and coarse barnyard manure, the 

 structure of the soil can be improved markedly and cultivation 

 thereby made much more feasible. Lime also could be used to 

 advantage as a means of securing a greater degree of friability. 



Excellent crops of corn, forage, and probably oats and short staple 

 cotton, can be secured from this land without the use of fertilizer, 

 except possibly moderate applications of phosphoric acid as a stimu- 

 lant to crop maturity. Vegetables like okra and onions would do 

 well. An initial application of 1^ to 2 tons of burnt lime or 3 tons of 

 ground lime rock would increase the productiveness of this land. 



A mechanical analysis of a sample of this soil was made, showing 

 ' the following results : 



Mechanical analysis of Portsmouth clay. 



PORTSMOUTH MUCKY LOAM. 



The Portsmouth mucky loam consists of a jet-black, very mucky 

 sandy loam to loam, underlain at about 20 inches by a compact, 

 rather plastic black clay, with a high organic matter content. The type 

 was seen in stream depressions in that part of the county where the 

 Portsmouth clay was examined. It is very similar to the latter type 

 in manner of origin, but has been made very much more loamy, owing 

 to a greater accumulation of decaying vegetable matter. The 

 growth of wild grass is very rank. 



[Cir. 211 



