THE CLYDE SERIES OF SOILS. 41 



crop prevails in the more northern latitudes where dairying is ex- 

 tensively conducted. 



Oats are the important small-grain crop upon the Clyde silty clay 

 loam. This crop usually follows corn in the rotation and under 

 conditions of favorable season gives yields ranging from 40 to 60 

 bushels per acre. There is a tendency toward the lodging of the 

 grain, especially upon areas where drainage is not complete. The 

 yield is thus somewhat reduced. 



Wheat is only grown to a limited extent on the Clyde silty clay 

 loam and with extremely variable yields, which range from 14 to 25 

 bushels per acre. 



The Clyde silty clay loam is an excellent soil for grass production, 

 and large areas are seeded to mixed timothy and clover or to clover 

 alone. The seeding is either made in the spring with the oat crop 

 or the timothy is sown in the fall with the wheat and the clover is 

 harrowed in during the succeeding spring. Yields of hay range 

 from 1^ to 2£ tons per acre, probably averaging about If tons. Some 

 areas of the Clyde silty clay loam where drainage has only been par- 

 tially established support a heavy growth of marsh grasses, which 

 are either cut for hay or are utilized as pasturage. The yields of 

 marsh hay range from 1 to 2 tons per acre. 



Special crops are grown only to a limited extent on the Clyde silty 

 clay loam. In some areas in Wisconsin sugar beets are grown, giv- 

 ing yields of 12 to 18 tons per acre. In that State, also, both cab- 

 bage and onions are produced upon this soil, the former giving yields 

 of 12 to 15 tons and the latter 300 to 500 bushels per acre. Irish 

 potatoes are grown to a limited extent, producing yields of 100 to 

 300 bushels per acre. The potatoes are usually not of first quality. 



The most common rotation upon the Clyde silty clay loam consists 

 of corn planted for two or more years in succession and followed by 

 oats. Seeding to mixed grass and clover is made with the oat crop. 

 Hay is cut for one or two years and the lands may be pastured for an 

 additional year. The rotation then returns to corn. The value of the 

 Clyde silty clay loam for corn production is so generally recognized 

 that there is a constant tendency to plant corn as often as is pos- 

 sible. In consequence the greatest acreage in grain is usually de- 

 voted to this crop. It is probably only exceeded, if at all, by the 

 acreage given to hay. 



Very little has been done in the line of fertilizing the Clyde silty 

 clay loam, the majority of farmers depending upon the inherent fer- 

 tility of the soil for the maintenance of crop yields. Stable manure 

 is used probably more extensively than any other material, being 

 applied to the second or third crop of corn. In some localities a 

 small amount of commercial fertilizer is applied with the small- 

 grain crop. 



