GROUP OF LIGHT SANDS AND FINE SANDS 
49 
cient in all of the important elements, they have certain advan¬ 
tages for special crops, and it is possible to profitably supplement 
their natural supply of plant food material by the use of fertil¬ 
izers. All systems of farming on such land should be planned in 
such a way as either to conserve its natural fertility, or supply 
it by the use of commercial fertilizers. 
The most important differences between these sandy types of 
soils and heavier classes, such as silt loams and clay loams, how¬ 
ever, are not of a chemical nature, but of a physical nature, hav¬ 
ing to do with their water holding capacity, drainage, tillage, 
etc. Suggestions for the improvement of these types are based 
upon field experiments, chemical and mechanical analyses, and 
upon studies and observations covering a variety of sandy soils. 
In the management of these sandy soils it should be kept in 
mind that they are naturally low in organic matter and in the 
mineral elements required, the water holding capacity is poor 
and the soil is acid. As all of the types in this group are in an 
acid condition they would be greatly benefited by the application 
of lime. 
When the amount of organic matter or humus forming mate¬ 
rial in the soil is increased, the water holding capacity is also 
increased. The humus forming material can best be increased 
by applying stable manure and by plowing under legumes as 
green manure. Of the legumes red and mammoth clover are 
perhaps better adapted to sandy soils than any of the others, 
but neither of these nor alfalfa will make the most satisfactory 
growth until the acid condition is corrected. The mineral ele¬ 
ments required may be supplied by the use of commercial fertil¬ 
izers. 
When a soil can be made to produce a fair crop of clover, with¬ 
out an excessive expenditure, that soil can be successfully and 
profitably improved. It is therefore important that the first 
efforts in building up a soil should be directed toward the estab¬ 
lishing of conditions which will be favorable for the growth of 
clover. 
From experiments conducted it seems advisable to sow clover 
without a nurse crop, where the fertility of the soil is very low, 
since it will then have all of the moisture in the sand for its own 
growth. There is also some danger of the young plants being 
damaged by the hot sun when the nurse crop is removed. The 
field intended for clover should be plowed in the fall, or as 
