THE SUSQUEHANNA FINE SANDY LOAM. 7 



pounds per acre are made in addition to the use of the ordinary min- 

 eral fertilizers. The applications are made in the row prior to the 

 planting of the cotton. Increased yields invariably result. 



It is probable that over the greater portion of this type it will be 

 necessary to resort to the use of the green-manuring crops in order 

 to secure any material increase in the humus content of the soil. A 

 considerable variety of leguminous crops may be used for this pur- 

 pose. Cowpeas are particularly suitable and may either be sown be- 

 tween the rows of corn at the last working and allowed to make a late 

 midsummer and early autumn growth, to be turned under for green- 

 manuring purposes the next spring, or the crop may be grown upon 

 land given over to its use. In the latter case the cowpeas may be seeded 

 in the spring and an excellent crop of cowpea hay secured in time 

 to permit of the preparation of the land for the sowing of a winter 

 oat crop. Either method will restore a considerable amount of 

 organic matter to the soil, in the first case through the plowing under 

 of the entire crop, and in the second case through the turning in of 

 the roots and stubble. Soy beans may be similarly used. Both crim- 

 son clover and winter vetch may be sown between the rows of cotton 

 or of corn late in the season in order to produce a winter growth 

 suitable for green-manuring purposes. 



In almost all cases where large amounts of green organic matter 

 are turned into the soil it is highly desirable to apply lime to pro- 

 mote the decomposition of the vegetable matter. Either the burned 

 stone lime may be applied at the rate of 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per 

 acre or ground limestone may be applied in about double that amount. 

 Wherever green manuring has been properly practiced upon the 

 Susquehanna fine sandy loam it has resulted in materially increased 

 crop yields and in the lasting improvement of the physical con- 

 dition and the crop-producing power of the soil. 



Practically no systematic crop rotation has been introduced upon 

 the Susquehanna fine sandy loam. It is desirable that a rotation 

 suited to the different communities where the type is found should 

 be adopted. One of the chief requisites of such a rotation would be 

 the production of some leguminous crop for at least one year in the 

 regular rotation. It is possible to produce an early crop of cotton 

 and follow this with a crop of winter oats in the majority of areas 

 where the type is encountered. The oats may be grazed off or cut for 

 hay and the land plowed for corn. With the last cultivation of the 

 corn crop, cowpeas should be sown between the rows and in the suc- 

 ceeding spring turned under to serve as a green manure. A con- 

 siderable variety of cropping may be arranged to meet the needs of 

 the individual plantation owner, provided oats and cowpeas, and in 

 some localities also crimson clover and winter vetch aregrown in 

 conjunction with cotton and corn. 



