COTTON SOILS AND CLIMATIC ADAPTATIONS 71 



moisture than the Orangeburg and Norfolk soils. With 

 proper mangement, yields of from three-fourths to one- 

 and-ar-half bales to the acre are easily obtained, especially 

 on the sandy loam and clay loam types. 



The Greenville soils occur in southwest Georgia and 

 in the coastal plain region of Alabama. There are also 

 some fairly important areas in portions of Louisiana and 

 northeastern Texas. 



Ruston fine sandy loam. — This is a rather extensive 

 cotton spil, being rather abundant in the coastal plain 

 region of Mississippi and Alabama. It is a "Ught gray 

 or yellowish-gray fine sandy loam of variable depth, but 

 averaging about 20 inches." The subsoil is a sandy clay 

 intermediate in color between that of the Norfolk and 

 Orangebiu-g soils. This soil is inclined to be droughty 

 and cotton yields diminish unless extreme care is exercised 

 to prevent the waste of soil moisture. 



Susquehanna fine sandy loam. — This type comprises 

 an immense area in east Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

 and Alabama. The soil is a "gray to brown fine sand or 

 fight fine sandy loam about 12 inches deep, resting upon a 

 red or yellowish-red clay which is usually stiff and plastic." 

 Cotton gives only moderate yields on this type. The 

 prevention of erosion and addition of organic matter are 

 the most m-gent needs of this soil. 



The Houston soils. — This series comprises very valuable 

 cotton soils embracing rather large areas in Texas, Ala- 

 bama, and Mississippi. The Houston black clay consti- 

 tutes what is known as the "black waxy belt" of north and 

 central Texas. It is found to a limited extent in central 

 Alabama and northeastern Mississippi. This type of soil 

 produces more bales of cotton than any other single type in 

 the United States. The average yield is about one-half 



