THE SOILS OF TENNESSEE. 163 



The supply of potash is indicated as poor by the chemical analyses, but 

 the results of field experiments have seldom shown profitable returns from 

 potash salts, even on long cultivated soils. However, under more inten- 

 sive crop production than is now the rule, some potash is apt to be needed 

 and is generally advisable for potatoes and trucking crops. The nitrogen 

 and humus supplies of the new lands are fairly good, but very poor for 

 the long cultivated ones. Attention must therefore be given to the main- 

 tenance of these supplies, which should not prove difficult with the infor- 

 mation now available on this subject. 



At the present time corn, forage crops, potatoes, apples, etc., are being 

 grown to a limited extent. The chief dependence outside of the timber 

 for an income, is the great free range where cattle and other live stock 

 are fattened with the minimum of expense to the owners. Only a small 

 portion of the land is cleared, though much of the best timber has been 

 removed, and by burning over the land each year the growth of wild grass 

 has been encouraged, though at the expense of the soil supply of vegetable 

 matter. 



The Agricultural Experiment Station has published a practical guide 

 on the upbuilding of these soils for which lime and phosphate must be con- 

 sidered of fundamental importance. 



THE CENTRAL BASIN OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE. 



The Central Basin of Middle Tennessee has an area of approximately 

 5400 square miles. It is an undulating plain, 50 to 60 miles wide and 100 

 miles long, and has a general elevation of about 600 feet above sea level, 

 but hills rising to 200 or more feet above the surrounding country are not 

 uncommon. The soils are practically all of limestone origin, and are de- 

 cidedly the most durable and productive under cultivation of any large 

 area in the State. 



The typical soil is a deep, brown loam which is easily tilled and is well 

 adapted to a great range of farm and garden crops. In its virgin condi- 

 tion this type of soil was rich in all of the important elements of soil fer- 

 tility, but continuous cropping in corn and wheat has greatly depleted the 

 store of nitrogen. Also they are now in large part in need of liming to 

 get satisfactory crops of clover. To restore these lands to their former 

 productiveness the growing of legumes, clovers in particular, is a prime 

 essential. With the aid of lime this can easily be done. The continuation 

 of the present system of cropping will result in the further depletion of 

 these naturally very fine soils. The loss of soils by erosion is also a serious 

 matter and calls for the growing of much more grass than is the present 

 custom. 



