1579, 580, 581, 582] heavtjplatwqobs soils. 279 



579. The Heavy Flatwoods Soil. — The first necessity, in taking this soil into 

 cultivation, is the provision for its proper drainage. — It might seem that but 

 little could, in this case, be effected by underdrains, since the soil is so dense ; 

 it is most likely, however, that (as in most heavy soils), underdraining would 

 soon cause the soil to become sufficiently porous (11408 ; 410), and would thus 

 greatly improve it with respect to "safeness" and facility of tillage. Mean- 

 while, surface ditches, properly disposed, so as to carry off more rapidly the 

 stagnant surface water, would alone be of great benefit ; and the nature of the 

 subsoil is such, that little fear need be entertained of the washing of the soil, 

 especially as there is hardly any difference between it and the subsoil. Even 

 in hillside ditches it is carried away with difficulty, and as a general thing the 

 fall of the Flatwoods streams, and that of the country itself, is so slight as to 

 cause difficulty rather in consequence of the slow subsidence of the waters, 

 even when all concentrated into one channel. During the rainy seasons, the 

 Flatwoods may sometimes be covered for miles with a thin sheet of sluggishly 

 flowing water ; and it is oftentimes only by the increased velocity of the current 

 that the traveller is made aware of his approach to the channel of a creek, and 

 to a ford which, perfectly solid and safe a few days ago, will now bog his horse 

 up to the belly, in mud of the most tenacious kind. 



580. The heavy Flatwoods soil is not in itself very thrifty, even where it is 

 of considerable fertility ; the crop requires time for its development ; and if put 

 into the ground late in the season, in consequence of a late and wet spring, it is 

 liable to be overtaken by the summer drouth before it is able to resist it. This 

 is one of the most frequent causes of the utter failure of the cotton and corn 

 crop in the Flatwoods ; for usually, when they do fail, they fail completely. On 

 the other hand, in favorable seasons, very good average crops, both of corn and 

 cotton, arc made on this soil. It will be observed that in this respect, the heavy 

 Flatwoods soil resembles the black prairie soil of N". E. Mississippi (H"549, ff. ; 

 402 1 ). There also, crops fail in extreme seasons ; and if they do not fail as 

 frequently as is the case in the Flatwoods, it is due mainly to the great thriftiness 

 of the calcareous prairie soil, which causes a rapid development of the young 

 plant, and enables it to outlast a drouth which would put an end to all crops 

 in the Flatwoods (f 402 1 ). 



If we examine the chemical difference between the prairie soil and the Flat- 

 woods soil in question, we find it to consist mainly in the lack of Vegetable 

 Matter, of Lime, and to some extent, of Phosphoric Acid, in the latter ; also, 

 perhaps, of Soda. These, therefore, require to be added to it. Potash, Mag- 

 nesia, Manganese and Iron, are present in quantities very nearly the same as in 

 the prairie soil. 



581. The proper mode of improving this soil is, therefore, very plainly indi- 

 cated. The vegetation it bears at the present time, seems to prove that but little 

 of the large amount of potash which it contains, is present in an available 

 condition (l[o57). This can be remedied by the application of lime or calcareous 

 marl (or perhaps, plaster or gypsum, where it can be obtained cheaply (l[368, ff ; 

 43G ; 462). While the land is thus stimulated, an important ingredient, in which 

 it is deficient will be supplied to it. 



Lime alone would, no doubt, effect a great improvement in this soil ; and 

 fortunately, it is within easy reach in the whole Flatwoods region. 



582. But the application of vegetable matter would be a great additional 

 improvement in more than one respect ; for while it would supply the humus 

 which is so favorable to all vegetation (l[420, ff.), it would also render the soil 

 lighter — easier tilled, more accessible to the atmosphere, and less liable to suffer 

 either by drouth or excessive wet weather. It would undoubtedly prove 

 beneficial to this soil even in a raw condition ; sawdust, leaves, pine and other 

 straw may, therefore, be freely used. The best mode, however, of applying 

 both materials simultaneously, would be to compost the vegetable matter — leaves, 

 straw, pond-muck — with lime or calcareous marl, and allow it to decompose 



