THE CLYDE SERIES OP SOILS. 21 



the best of the sandy soils for corn production. In fact, its position 

 and natural drainage features combine to retain more soil moisture 

 than would otherwise be possible in such a porous soil. It ranks 

 more nearly with the sandy loam upland soils than with sand soils 

 for these reasons. The general average of corn yields upon the Clyde 

 sand ranges from 20 bushels per acre, usually where drainage is de- 

 fective and the stand is reduced by excess moisture, to 85 bushels per 

 acre or more where drainage has been established and the organic 

 matter content of the surface soil has been carefully maintained 

 through the application of stable manure. Corn is grown both for 

 the grain and for silage, and the yields of silage range from 8 to 10 

 tons per acre. While the type is a fairly good corn soil it is not so 

 well suited to this crop as are the heavier members of the series. 



Oats are also grown in regular rotation with corn and grass. The 

 large amounts of organic matter in the surface soil and the high 

 moisture content tend toward an excessive growth of straw, and this 

 is frequently weak and unable to support the grain crop to maturity. 

 The yields are frequently reduced through losses from the lodging 

 of the grain. Where drainage is fully established good yields are 

 secured. The yields of oats range from 25 to 40 bushels per acre. 

 Sometimes the partly matured crop is cut for hay when the lodging 

 is so marked as to indicate that grain production would be impossible 

 or unprofitable. 



Hay constitutes one of the most extensively grown crops upon the 

 Clyde sand. Even where the drainage is not sufficiently established 

 to insure good grain crops it is adequate for the growing of timothy 

 or of mixed timothy and alsike clover. . Areas of this character 

 are seeded down and frequently left in grass for a period of three to 

 five years or more. Hay is cut during the earlier years of the seed- 

 ing, and the land is pastured when the hay yield falls below 1 ton 

 per acre. In other wetter areas the wild grasses are cut for hay or 

 utilized for pasture. In the cultivated fields the yields of mixed hay 

 range from 1 to 1-| tons per acre. The average yield of the wild 

 grasses cut for hay is not over 1 ton per acre. The pastures upon this 

 soil are usually well maintained during the dryer months of summer 

 because of its low-lying and partially drained condition. Grass pro- 

 duction upon the Clyde sand should be one of its chief uses where 

 it is not so situated nor so well drained as to render it available for 

 the growing of the more intensely farmed crops. 



Wherever the drainage conditions in the different areas of this soil 

 have been perfected the Clyde sand is especially well adapted to the 

 growing of special crops. When markets are accessible these crops 

 should constitute the chief dependence of agriculture upon this soil. 

 Sugar beets are successfully grown upon the higher lying and better 

 drained portions of the type, giving yields of 10 tons or more per 



