THE SOILS OF TENNESSEE. 159 



But even when run down, these soils respond readily to proper treat- 

 ment and can be restored to hig-h productiveness. Alfalfa is more easily 

 obtained on them than on any other type of upland in this part of the State 

 at present known to the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University 

 of Tennessee, and farmers are finding this crop very profitable. As they 

 are superior soils, it is not surprising to find them relatively high priced, 

 forty to one hundred dollars an acre being not unusual. The chief draw- 

 backs to these soils are the ease with which they are eroded when in culti- 

 vated crops, and the fact that outcrops of limestone rock prevent some 

 parts from being cultivated. Bluegrass thrives, however, in such places 

 and makes excellent pasture. 



The soils described are found both on hillsides and in valleys wherever 

 the marble formation occurs. They cover only a relatively small area, 

 being found in narrow belts throughout the valley section. 



Dolomitic soils. The underlying rock over approximately one-half of 

 the Great Valley is dolomite or magnesian limestone. This formation has 

 given rise to soils which vary in both color and fertility, but which have 

 certain characteristics in common. They may be roughly placed in two 

 groups, the ridge or high hill lands, and the undulating lower lands. The 

 former are lighter in color, contain much more coarse, angular gravel or 

 chert, and are poorer than the latter. In fact, the dolomite ridges of East 

 Tennessee are among the poorest soils of the State, being naturally very 

 deficient in phosphoric acid and lime, and not well supplied with either 

 potash or nitrogen. They are gravelly loams which are generally gray 

 colored, but some are red colored and all have red colored subsoils. These 

 soils are deep, well drained, stand drought as well as any, and respond 

 readily to both manure and fertilizers. 



The high elevations of the ridges, together with the nature of the soils, 

 makes them well adapted to peaches, cherries and early apples. Grapes 

 and small fruits thrive, and in some places strawberry growing in particu- 

 lar, has reached considerable commercial importance. These ridge lands 

 are little used for general farm crops, and as a rule are covered with tim- 

 ber. Land values are low, ten to twenty dollars per acre being common 

 prices. 



The lower lands contain less chert and are apt to be redder colored than 

 the ridge lands. The surface is rolling but is not unsuited to cultivated 

 crops. These soils are nearly always somewhat deficient in both lime and 

 phosphate and are apt to be poor in nitrogen and humus. They are best 

 adapted to corn, wheat and forage crops, and when limed and fertilized 

 will produce good crops of clover and grass. At the University Farm at 

 Knoxville, alfalfa is successfully grown on this type of land, but not with- 

 out special preparation. 



