4 BULLETIN 651, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



As cotton is the predominating crop on these farms, the yield and 

 acreage of cotton per work animal practically determine the degree 

 of success. 



High yields are obtained by using fertilizers, legumes, and good 

 varieties of seed, and by good tillage. Still better yields could be 

 obtained by applying lime also and planting winter cover crops. 



Cotton is fertilized most heavily and corn next. Oats and wheat 

 are fertilized lightly, but no fertilizers are applied to cowpeas. 



The cost of producing crops on these farms declines rapidly with 

 increase in yields, principally on account of the decrease in man and 

 nmle labor required per unit of yield. 



Farms that planted from 20 to 23 acres of crops per work animal 

 were the most profitable. Farms that had from 21 to 25, 41 to 45, 

 and 61 to 65 acres of crops, good sizes, respectively, for one, two, 

 and three mule farms, were more profitable than those that had 

 intermediate sizes. 



Two-mule farms with a good acreage per mule were the best farms, 

 but there are larger farms under exceptional management which are 

 as profitable. 



The cost of producing feed crops is such that it is profitable to grow 

 them only in sufficient quantities to insure a supply for home con- 

 sumption. The tendency of farmers, and the most profitable pro- 

 cedure, is to grow the necessary home supplies and then grow all 

 the cotton the conditions permit. Likewise the tendency of farmers, 

 and, within certain limits, the most profitable procedure, is to grow 

 more oats and cowpeas and less corn. 



The high cost of producing feed makes the area poorly adapted 

 to the production of live stock. Beef cattle, under present condi- 

 tions, are practically out of the question, but there is a limited oppor- 

 tunity for dairying, particularly where there is a large family. Hogs 

 should be produced on a small scale for home consumption. The 

 small number of chickens kept per farm is due to the limited pro- 

 duction of grain and five stock and the consequent small amount of 

 waste feed. 



Alfalfa and late Irish potatoes are promising crops for this area. 

 Soy beans and velvet beans also offer possibilities. 



As a general proposition, where from 20 to 23 acres of crops are 

 planted per work animal, 40 per cent of the land should be planted 

 in feed crops and 60 per cent in cotton. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 



SOILS. 



The 112 farms surveyed are all located on Cecil sandy loam soil. 

 Tins soil, according to the Bureau of Soils, constitutes 55 per cent of 

 Anderson County. It consists of brownish gray to brown, medium- 

 textured, sandy loam top soil, from 4 to 8 inches deep, which changes 



