THE CLYDE SERIES OF SOILS. 53 



The prime necessity for securing large yields of beets upon the 

 Clyde loam and, in fact, upon all of the heavier soils of the Clyde 

 series is adequate drainage. This should be perfected not only for 

 the surface of the land but also for the subsoil to a depth of 2 or 3 

 feet. It can onty be made most effective and more nearly permanent 

 when it is accomplished through thorough tile underdrainage. The 

 outlets for complete farm drainage are usually provided by the 

 county and township ditches and nearly every farm on the Clyde 

 loam or clay loam may be connected with such outlets. 



For complete drainage on such dense soils as the Clyde loam, clay 

 loam, and clay, lines of tile should be located at intervals of not 

 more than 60 feet while an interval of 40 feet is not too close in 

 many cases. The tile should be laid at a minimum depth of 2 feet 

 to 30 inches and tile of smaller inside diameter than 4 inches should 

 not commonly be used. The best beet fields upon both the Clyde 

 loam and clay were invariably found to be tiled. The more adequate 

 drainage resulted both in a more nearly perfect stand and in the 

 added length and weight of the mature beets. Danger from poor 

 germination was avoided in the early part of the season, while greater 

 root penetration into the more porous and friable soil gave greater 

 opportunity for maximum growth than upon any of the fields not 

 tile drained. It is estimated by some growers that the cost of tiling 

 the fields is repaid by two or at most three beet crops through in- 

 creased tonnage and higher sugar content of the beets. Other crops 

 grown in rotation with the beets are, of course, correspondingly 

 benefited. 



The yields obtained upon the several soils of the Clyde series have 

 been stated in the general discussion of the different types. For the 

 sake of comparison they may be restated. 



While the more sandy members of the series may be used locally 

 for beet growing this is not advisable, and the Clyde fine sandy loam 

 is the coarsest textured soil upon which good yields are consistently 

 obtained. The Clyde fine sandy loam gives average yields of 10 to 

 12 tons per acre. The Clyde loam produces 7 to 10 tons per acre 

 upon lands not tile drained, and yields of 12 to 18 tons per acre upon 

 tile-drained lands where the greatest care is exercised in the prepara- 

 tion of the land and the fertilization of the beets. It is probable that 

 the general average for the type is in excess of 10 tons per acre, 

 ranging upward on the better drained portions of the type and down- 

 ward upon lands where drainage is not so complete. A few areas 

 of the Clyde silty clay loam, which have been planted to beets give 

 large yields of relatively low sugar content. The yields are reported 

 to range from 12 to 18 tons. In almost all cases these yields were 

 obtained upon new land, recently drained and placed under cultiva- 

 tion. It is probable that as this soil is used longer for beets and 



