160 RESOURCES OF TENNESSEE. 



In some instances the valley lands of dolomitic origin, especially where 

 the dolomite is interstratified with non-magnesian limestone, are brown 

 to dark-red in color, and are of extra fertility, ranking with the best lime- 

 stone soils in this part of the State. Areas of this kind are found, for 

 example, in the vicinity of Morristown and New Market. 



Chickamauga limestone soil. The Chickamauga or blue, "rotten", lime- 

 stone is found throughout the East Tennessee Valley in narrow strips, 

 which are often only one-eighth of a mile in width, but which may be fifty 

 or more miles in length, running in a generally north-easterly and south- 

 westerly direction. Upon disintegration, this rock produces heavy silt 

 loams and clays, which may be dark colored when first cleared but under 

 cultivation become gray and reddish yellow, the latter being the charac- 

 teristic color of the subsoil. As this formation weathers easily, the soils 

 are found in valleys and on low hills. Outcrops of the rock are not infre- 

 quent, and often are marked by cedar groves. Where of good depth, the 

 soil is adapted to corn, wheat, forage crops and grass. Soil analyses and 

 the results of field experiments show that this type is generally poor in 

 phosphoric acid and lime, but rich in potash. The long cultivated lands 

 are generally poor in nitrogen. 



Fall plowing is especially advisable on this type of soil, in order to get 

 a mellow seed bed for any summer crop. Liming is generally a necessity 

 for a satisfactory growth of clover, and the use of phosphate should not 

 be omitted. 



Tellico sandstone soil. The Tellico sandstone formation is found in 

 narrow belts, generally occupying, on account of the hardness of the rock, 

 the tops of the highest hills and ridges. The soils derived from it cover 

 the tops and sides of the hills and may extend down to the valleys. They 

 vary from brown to red in color and in general appearance might easily be 

 confused with the marble soils previously described. Both kinds are often 

 called "mulatto" soils. The Tellico sandstone soils are, however, much 

 lighter than the marble soils, being classified as fine sandy loams. Both 

 on account of their elevation and their texture, they are especially well 

 suited to market garden crops, orchards and small fruits. When first 

 cleared, they are well supplied with all of the elements of plant food, but 

 the long cultivated soils need fertilizers and lime. With attention to these 

 needs, alfalfa as well as clover may be grown successfully. Owing to 

 the steepness of the hillsides which characterize this formation, erosion is 

 liable to do great damage. This should be prevented by putting them in 

 permanent pasture before the soil fertility is greatly reduced. Failure to 

 do this has in many instances resulted in irreparable ruin. 



These soils are by far the easiest tilled of any uplands in this part of 

 the State. Winter cover crops, such as crimson clover, vetch and even 



