6 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



paid, not only to the depth of the surface sandy material, but also to 

 drainage, so that the best drained areas may be selected for truck 

 crops, and those not excessively drained used for the production of 

 the general staple crops. 



Improvement in tillage methods would involve principally the use 

 of disk machinery for plowing and harrowing the soil. The use of 

 such machinery would save considerable time and expense of tillage, 

 and at the same time the soft, friable surface soil would be adequately 

 stirred. Furthermore, a large amount of organic matter in the form 

 of weeds or other litter could be thoroughly incorporated into the 

 surface soil for the maintenance of its organic matter content. Prac- 

 tically no attention need be paid to the improvement of the drainage 

 of the type, or to its protection from erosion. 



Probably the one great need of the Norfolk sandy loam is the 

 restoration of organic matter to the surface soil. For this purpose 

 a considerable number of leguminous crops is available. These 

 vary somewhat in the different regions where the type is found. In 

 all the northern localities from New Jersey to Cape Hatteras crim- 

 son clover makes one of the best green-manuring crops for this type. 

 It may be sown in the fall, and will usually make a considerable 

 growth before the end of the growing season in the early winter. 

 Even during the winter months, in the more southern portions of 

 the region, it will continue to grow. It revives at an early date in 

 the spring; and, before it is necessary to plow the land for a regular 

 season crop, the crimson clover will have attained a sufficient height 

 to provide a considerable tonnage of organic matter, which may 

 be turned into the surface soil. In more southern localities the 

 cowpea constitutes an admirable crop, which may either be sown 

 alone to occupy the entire surface of the land, or may be sown be- 

 tween the rows of crops, like corn, after the last working in the sum- 

 mer. In either case the plowing under of the roots and stubble, 

 or in the first case, the plowing under of the entire crop will aid 

 materially in the maintenance of organic matter. 



In the South Atlantic and Gulf States in addition, cowpeas, velvet 

 beans, and bur clover may also be used for the same purpose. In 

 all localities where the type occurs the winter or hairy vetch should 

 constitute a valuable winter cover and green-manuring crop. In 

 addition to these leguminous crops, which are the most valuable for 

 such purposes, winter rye in the more northern localities, and winter 

 rye or winter wheat in the more southern States may be grown. The 

 production of one or more of these crops, as the tillage system may 

 require, should be advocated wherever the type is farmed, either foi 

 general farming purposes or the production of special crops. 



In this connection it is necessary to call attention to the desirability 

 of applying lime to the soil after the green-manuring crop has beer 



