74 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



sandy clay subsoil of similar color. Drainage is generally 

 good and fair yields of cotton are secured. 



82. Cotton soils of the limestone valleys and uplands. 

 In. so far as the cotton-belt is concerned this region is con- 

 fined to northwestern Georgia, northern Alabama, and 

 Tennessee. The Clarksville silt loam and gravelly loam 

 are the principal upland cotton soils, while the Decatur 

 clay loam and Hagerstown loam are the chief valley soils 

 for cotton. These soils have been derived very largely 

 from the decay of underlying limestones and dolomitic 

 limestones. 



The Clarksville soils. The only important cotton soils 

 of this series are the Clarksville gravelly loam and silt 

 loam. These soils give fair yields of cotton when properly 

 managed. The gravelly loam is probably the better for 

 this crop. The silt loam is more droughty and is looked 

 upon- as a rather weak soil. The more level areas are 

 poorly drained. 



The Decatur clay loam is a more productive soil than 

 either of the Clarksville types described. The surface 

 soil is 8 to 12 inches deep and ranges in color from a brown 

 to reddish brown. The subsoil is a reddish brown to red 

 clay. With good management, profitable crops of cotton 

 are easily produced on this soil. 



The Hagerstown loam, occurring in both Alabama and 

 Tennessee is one of the best cotton soils of this region. 

 "The soil is a brown yellow loam averaging about 12 

 inches in depth. The subsoil is a yellow or reddish clay 

 loam to a depth of 24 inches." 



83. Cotton soils of the Loessial region. The Loessial 

 region comprises an important area of silty deposits formed 

 by water or wind during or following the glacial period. In 

 the cotton-belt it occupies a rather broad belt extending 



