THE OBANGEBURG SANDY LOAM. . 7 



is derived from the protecting mat of surface vegetation and of 

 plant roots, and destructive erosion is decreased. 



In addition, a considerable growth of green-manuring material 

 may be made during the fall and spring months and, in the more 

 southern localities, even during the winter months. In the succeed- 

 ing spring this may be turned under to a depth of 5 or 6 inches, and 

 thoroughly incorporated with the surface soil, furnishing, in its 

 decay, the much needed organic matter content. In many instances, 

 especially where the sandy clay subsoil approaches near to the surface, 

 it would be well to add lime to the extent of 1,500 or 2,000 pounds 

 per acre after turning under the green-manure crop. The burned 

 stone lime, slaked in the field and broadcasted over the surface of the 

 type and then harrowed in thoroughly, will be most effective in pro- 

 moting this necessary decomposition. Where such treatment is 

 omitted, difficulty is occasionally experienced through the accumula- 

 tion of large masses of partly decomposed organic matter at shallow 

 depths. The presence of such material prevents the proper root 

 development of the succeeding crop, frequently reducing instead 

 of increasing the crop yield. Wherever the prompt decay of the 

 organic matter is secured through the application of lime, this 

 method of restoring this element to the soil is probably the best and 

 most expedient which may be adopted. 



Those methods of tillage of the Orangeburg sandy loam should be 

 adopted which tend toward the maintenance of an adequate supply 

 of soil moisture in the surface soil. In consequence the depth of 

 plowing should be increased from the prevailing aA'erage of not over 

 3 inches to 8 or 9 inches. This should be done gradually by increasing 

 the depth of plowing about 1 inch each time the ground is broken. 

 Increase in the depth of plowing will enable the surface soil to 

 absorb and retain a larger amount of moisture during the winter 

 and spring rains and will assist in the prevention of erosion. 



For the subsequent tillage of the crop too much stress can not be 

 laid upon the frequent and the shallow cultivation of the surface 

 soil. By such operations a thin covering or dust mulch is formed 

 which is almost perfectly dry. This interposes between the soil 

 moisture and the atmosphere above a covering which prevents ex- 

 cessive evaporation. During the earlier part of the season it is not 

 so essential that the cultivation should be shallow, but as the crop 

 roots are pushed out into the middle of the rows this practice should 

 be more steadfastly adhered to lest the surface feeding roots be de- 

 stroyed by deeper cultivation and the ability of the crop to secure 

 the available supply of soil moisture thereby lessened. 



Only those areas of the Orangeburg sandy loam which possess at 

 present an adequate supply of organic matter should be selected for 

 the production of corn. Otherwise the yields per acre are likely to 



