THE CLYDE SERIES OF SOILS. 21 
the best of the sandy soils for corn production. In fact, its position 
and natural drainage features combine to retain more soil moisture 
than would otherwise be possible in such a porous soil. It ranks 
more nearly with the sandy loam upland soils than with sand soils 
for these reasons. The general average of corn yields upon the Clyde 
sand ranges from 20 bushels per acre, usually where drainage is de- 
fective and the stand is reduced by excess moisture, to 35 bushels per 
acre or more where drainage has been established and the organic 
matter content of the surface soil has been carefully maintained 
through the application of stable manure. Corn is grown both for 
the grain and for silage, and the yields of silage range from 8 to 10 
tons per acre. While the type is a fairly good corn soil it is not so 
well suited to this crop as are the heavier members of the series. 
Oats are also grown in regular rotation with corn and grass. The 
large amounts of organic matter in the surface soil and the high 
moisture content tend toward an excessive growth of straw, and this 
is frequently weak and unable to support the grain crop to maturity. 
The yields are frequently reduced through losses from the lodging 
of the grain. Where drainage is fully established good yields are 
secured. The yields of oats range from 25 to 40 bushels per acre. 
Sometimes the partly matured crop is cut for hay when the lodging 
is so marked as to indicate that grain production would be impossible 
or unprofitable. 
Hay constitutes one of the most extensively grown crops upon the 
Clyde sand. Even where the drainage is not sufficiently established 
to insure good grain crops it is adequate for the growing of timothy 
or of mixed timothy and alsike clover. Areas of this character 
are seeded down and frequently left in grass for a period of three to 
five years or more. Hay is cut during the earlier years of the seed- 
ing, and the land is pastured when the hay yield falls below 1 ton 
per acre. In other wetter areas the wild grasses are cut for hay or 
utilized for pasture. In the cultivated fields the yields of mixed hay 
range from 1 to 1^ tons per acre. The average yield of the wild 
grasses cut for hay is not over 1 ton per acre. The pastures upon this 
soil are usually well maintained during the dryer months of summer 
because of its low-lying and partially drained condition. Grass pro- 
duction upon the Clyde sand should be one of its chief uses where 
it is not so situated nor so well drained as to render it available for 
the growing of the more intensely farmed crops. 
Wherever the drainage conditions in the different areas of this soil 
have been perfected the Clyde sand is especially well adapted to the 
growing of special crops. When markets are accessible these crops 
should constitute the chief dependence of agriculture upon this soil. 
Sugar beets are successfully grown upon the higher lying and better 
drained portions of the type, giving yields of 10 tons or more per 
