26 BULLETIN 141, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



method by which these lands may be brought to their full producing 

 capacity. 



Drainage still remains so imperfect over considerable tracts that 

 the farm buildings are located upon the sandy elevations which rise 

 above the general level of the plain. Many local swamps persist 

 and the peat areas have been but recently drained. Both from the 

 standpoint of profit and of health drainage should be extended and 

 rendered more complete. 



The crop adaptations of the Clyde fine sand vary considerably in 

 the different areas where it has been' encountered. In the most ex- 

 tensive area, in Newton County, Ind., the crop uses vary chiefly with 

 the proportion of organic matter found in the surface soil and with 

 the depth of the dark-colored surface soil. Those areas in which 

 the organic matter content is rather small are chiefly devoted to 

 pasturage, while the areas well supplied with vegetable remains to 

 a considerable depth are used for the production of general farm 

 crops. 



Corn is the principal tilled crop grown. It is reported that in 

 the early days of the occupation and cultivation of this soil the yields 

 secured were as high as 50 bushels per acre. It is now estimated 

 that the average yield is about one-half of this amount. Present 

 yields range from 10 to 35 bushels per acre. Corn is grown for one 

 or more years and the land is then seeded to a small grain crop, al- 

 most always to oats. Oats yield from 20 to 30 bushels per acre. 

 In the usual rotation the field is next seeded to grass. Timothy is 

 commonly sowed alone as clover is likely to be winter killed on the 

 level and partly drained land. It is probable that redtop and meadow 

 fescue could be added to the seeding mixture with profit where it is 

 intended to cut the hay for home feeding and to follow several years 

 of hay production by the pasturing of the fields before they are again 

 plowed for corn. It is also certain that alsike clover may be profit- 

 ably seeded with the grasses where the land is fairly well drained. 



When clover is to be seeded the Clyde fine sand would be greatly 

 benefited by the application of 1 to 2 tons per acre of finely ground 

 limestone rock. This should be applied when the seeding to grass is 

 made, usually with the seeding of the oat crop. It would also benefit 

 both the oat crop and the grass seeding to apply finely ground raw 

 phosphate rock at the rate of not less than 500 pounds per acre at 

 the time of oat seeding. It has been demonstrated, also, that all 

 crops are greatly benefited through the application of muriate of 

 potash or kainit to such soils as the Clyde fine sand, especially where 

 the content of organic matter in the surface soil is unusually high. 



Proper liming and fertilization should greatly increase the yields 

 of all of the general farm crops. Where possible, stable and yard 

 manure should be applied to the corn ground. 



