THE SUSQUEHANNA FINE SANDY LOAM. 9 



not averaging above one-third of a bale per acre for the entire type. 

 Upon freshly cleared land the yields are considerably in excess of 

 this amount. The rapid exhaustion of organic matter, the habit of 

 ridged cultivation, and the failure to rotate crops are the three 

 fundamental causes for this decrease in the crop-producing power. 

 This is abundantly shown by the success of individual farmers who 

 have carefully attended to the cultivation and manuring of the type, 

 since they uniformly report yields of cotton averaging one-half bale 

 per acre or more. 



In the region of its most extensive occurrence in eastern Texas 

 the average yield of cotton has also been reduced in recent years 

 through the ravages of the boll weevil. These are being met through 

 improved methods of cultivation, through the growing of early 

 maturing varieties, and through the introduction of crop rotations. 

 The Susquehanna fine sandy loam when properly handled is capable 

 of yielding a fair return of cotton maturing at an early season, thus 

 avoiding the most serious damage from the boll weevil. It is prob- 

 able that this more sandy soil will come to be more and more appre- 

 ciated for cotton production as these methods of cotton growing are 

 more generally understood. In fact, the type is very well suited for 

 meeting just these emergencies. 



Corn is also universally grown upon the Susquehanna fine sandy 

 loam, but in far smaller aggregate acreage than cotton. The yields 

 are low, ranging from 10 to 25 bushels per acre and probably aver- 

 aging about 15 bushels. Again, faulty methods of soil management 

 and of crop rotation are responsible for these low yields. The same 

 methods which improve the type for cotton production are applicable 

 to corn, and the use of organic manures and the adoption of a rota- 

 tion containing at least one leguminous crop will materially increase 

 the corn yields upon this soil. 



Winter oats are grown to a limited extent chiefly as a forage crop. 

 In cases where the oats have been harvested, yields of 25 bushels per 

 acre have been secured. 



Peanuts have been grown in northeastern Texas to an increasing 

 extent during the last few years and constitute an excellent crop for 

 production upon this soil. Sorghum is also grown in the same 

 region, giving yields averaging about 3 tons per acre. Sweet pota- 

 toes, tomatoes, and melons are grown to a limited extent in a number 

 of localities, giving fair yields. 



Although peaches have been grown successfully upon some areas 

 of the Susquehanna fine sandy loam, it is scarcely possible to recom- 

 mend the crop for general production upon the type. For home use 

 a few trees may be set upon the best drained areas, but in general 

 the clay subsoil is too stiff and retentive of moisture to constitute a 

 good orcharding soil. 



