THE SUSQUEHANNA FINE SANDY LOAM. 5 



first cleared from the forest stand, and that after five or six years of 

 continued clean cultivation to cotton or corn the crop-producing 

 power of the soil gradually diminishes until paying crops are ob- 

 tained only with difficulty and in exceptionally favorable years. In 

 almost all cases this decrease in crop-producing capacity is accom- 

 panied by the active destruction of the small amount of organic 

 matter naturally present in the surface soil. 



The type was originally largely covered by extensive growths of 

 pine, particularly in the more eastern sections, and by scattered 

 growths of hardwood in the Texas timbered belt. In neither instance 

 was the natural accumulation of organic matter in the surface soil 

 sufficient to withstand many years of clean cultivation. As a result, 

 the diminution in crop production has accompanied the decrease in 

 the small initial amount of organic matter. Where the type has been 

 more carefully tilled and efforts made to preserve the organic matter 

 content. less difficulty has been experienced in maintaining crop yields. 

 This method of treatment of the Susquehanna fine sandy loam con- 

 stitutes one of the important points in its profitable agricultural occu- 

 pation. 



There are extensive areas covering the more hilly portions of the 

 iype where farming should not be attempted because of the tendency 

 to rapid erosion of the surface soil. Upon all of the steeper slopes 

 and upon many of the more gentle ones clean cultivation promotes 

 Ihe bodily removal of the surface soil, leaving exposed the plastic 

 raw clay subsoil. Such areas are not fitted for the production of even 

 ilie most hardy crops, and many otherwise excellent fields upon this 

 soil have been destroyed within a brief period of time through exces- 

 sive erosion. 



These limitations restrict the widespread occupation of the Susque- 

 hanna fine sandy loam to the more gently rolling portions of the type 

 and necessitate careful attention to the rotation of crops and the 

 restoration of organic matter if the yields of the great staple crops 

 are to be maintained. 



IMPROVEMENT IN SOIL EFFICIENCY. 



The methods for improving the Susquehanna fine sandy loam 

 should be directed along two principal lines. It is necessary to pre- 

 vent the excessive erosion of the surface soil of the type and to in- 

 crease the organic matter content of the surface soil if crop yields are 

 to be maintained. 



The first essential for the prevention of excessive soil erosion is 

 the restriction of cultivation to those fields and areas which possess 

 a gently sloping surface, in no case exceeding 10 of slope. All area- 

 of greater slope should either be left in the native timber growth or 

 should be allowed to become reforested. 



