SOIL CLASSIFICATION 43 



in the number of the different crops which may be grown upon this type, 

 and frequently in the yields of the common crops, which may be expected, 

 The crop range in number of kinds best grown usually decreases in both 

 directions, becoming decidedly limited at a rapid rate in the case of more 

 sandy soils, and at a less rapid rate in the case of the clay loams and clays. 

 This expresses moisture control. It has been more difficult to control 

 moisture in the sandy soils than in the clay loams and clays. Irrigation 

 is the answer to the difficulty with the sands, and drainage with the 

 clays. 



"Leguminous crops of all descriptions are particularly favored by 

 a high lime content in both soil and subsoil. 



"Soils well supplied with organic matter atone for some other soil 

 deficiencies in texture and structure. 



"Compacted layers of any kinds beneath the surface soil are un- 

 favorable to crop production. This applies to compacted subsoil, due to 

 shallow plowing, as well as to actual 'hard-pan.' 



"Good soil management always increases the range of crops which 

 may be grown as well as the amounts harvested. Man's ingenuity may 

 be used profitably to overcome nature's deficiencies. 



"Eastern Soils Not Worn Out. — Finally, I wish to state as a result 

 of years of observation under widely varying circumstances of soil study 

 and of farming: 



"I. That the soils of the Northeastern states are in nowise 'worn out' 

 or seriously depleted of anything essential to good crop production with 

 the local exception of organic matter in the surface soil. 



"II. That the majority of soils of the Northeastern states are capable 

 of producing average crops or greater if given fair treatment, especially 

 when the proper crops for the climate and the soil are selected for plant- 

 ing and others are discarded. 



"III. That soils which have been called 'worn out' have frequently 

 revived within a period of five years or less of good farming methods, 

 until their yields equaled or exceeded any production before known upon 

 that soil. 



"IV. That the best methods of crop growing and of soil management 

 now practiced by the best farmers of the Northeastern states would, if 

 made general in their application, more than double the total cropping 

 ability of the improved lands now in use. 



"V. That the market facilities of the Northeastern states are now 

 and will continue to become more and more favorable to the intensive 

 use of land and to the man who uses each acre for the crop or group of 



crops best suited to his soil and climate. 



********* 



"To the young farmers who are to carry on the great work of redeem- 

 ing land and of feeding people I have just one more thing to say. Study 

 the fundamental principles, which are true in Asia or the United States; 



