8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



fall and winter rains and which may be turned under at a sufficiently 

 early date in the spring to permit of the seasonable planting of either 

 cotton or corn. 



A wide variety of crops may be used for this purpos'e upon the 

 Orangeburg fine sandy loam. In all of the more elevated regions 

 crimson clover constitutes an excellent winter cover crop. It may 

 be sown between the rows of corn at the last working and will 

 make a good growth during the autumn months. In the milder 

 climate near the coast this growth may be continued throughout the 

 entire winter period. In all cases a heavy mat of vegetation is 

 formed over the surface of the soil, and this may be grazed by the 

 work stock without detriment either to the soil or to the crop. In 

 the early spring the green manure may be turned under to restore 

 organic matter to the surface soil. 



Cowpeas make an excellent green manuring crop, which may be 

 sown in midseason and harvested for hay, leaving the stubble and 

 roots for incorporation in the soil or the crop may be sown at a later 

 date, left upon the ground during the winter months, and turned 

 under in preparation for spring planting. The velvet bean, soy bean, 

 bur clover, and even lespedeza all have their value for such purposes 

 in the different localities where they are easily grown. 



In addition to these more valuable leguminous crops for green 

 manuring purposes, winter oats may be grown almost universally 

 upon the Orangeburg fine sandy loam, to be grazed off during the 

 winter and early spring or to be turned under bodily for the restora- 

 tion of organic matter. At the higher altitudes and in more northern 

 locations winter rye may be similarly used, or even winter wheat. 

 One or more of these crops should be grown upon every cotton plan- 

 tation for the protection of the surface soil during the periods of 

 winter rains and for the purpose of green manuring with the spring 

 preparation of the land. The application of lime will promote the 

 decomposition of the green manuring crop, and will assist in the 

 preparation of the soil for the succeeding money crop of the summer 

 season. The lime should be applied at the rate of 1,000 to 2,000 

 pounds per acre, depending upon the luxuriance of the growth which 

 is turned under. 



It is somewhat difficult to recommend any exact fertilizer practice 

 for such a widely extended soil type, with such different conditions of 

 climate, tillage, and crop production. It has been found through the 

 experience of farmers and the work of agricultural experiment sta- 

 tions that the greatest increases in crop yields upon the Orangeburg 

 fine sandy loam and upon similar soils are secured through the liberal 

 use of those commercial fertilizers which contain high percentages of 

 nitrogen and of phosphoric acid. A smaller percentage of potash is 

 usually found adequate, and in some cases excellent crops have been 



