46 
SOIL SURVEY OF JACKSON COUNTY 
holding capacity and their use for the growth of staple crops 
is ordinarily unprofitable, unless unusual skill is used in their 
management. It must be kept distinctly in mind, however, that 
all types as mapped show some variation in texture or fineness 
of grain. The chief factor limiting their agricultural use is 
that of water holding capacity. This depends chiefly on the 
texture or fineness of grain and can not be affected by any 
treatment it is practicable to give them. The water holding 
capacity can be somewhat increased by increasing the amount 
of organic matter, but this is a comparatively slow process 
and the amount of organic matter it is practicable to develop 
and maintain in these soils will increase their water holding 
capacity only to a limited extent. 
When a sufficient supply of active organic matter is devel¬ 
oped in these soils more of the phosphorus and potassium will 
undoubtedly be made available, but the use of fertilizers con¬ 
taining these elements in a more readily available form is de¬ 
sirable whenever these soils are farmed. 
The starting point in the improvement of these soils is the 
development of active organic matter through the growth of 
legumes which are able to secure their nitrogen supply from 
the atmosphere. But before legumes can be grown with the 
greatest success the liming of the soil is necessary. The growth 
of a good crop of mammoth clover or soj^beans through the use 
of lime and mineral fertilizers containing phosphorus and 
potassium is the best means of supplying this nitrogen and or¬ 
ganic matter. In most cases this legume should be plowed 
under as a green manuring crop. 
Probably the best way to get clover started is to seed with a 
small grain. By using a light seeding of rye, disked or har¬ 
rowed in and seeded to clover in the spring, a good stand can 
usually be secured. The seed should be put in a little deeper 
than on heavy soils, and the drill should be followed by a corru¬ 
gated roller, or if this implement is not at hand, an ordinary 
roller, followed by a light harrow should be used. When clover 
is seeded with a small grain in this way the growing grain helps 
to hold the soil in place and prevent blowing of the loose soil 
by the wind. 
As the result of careful experiments on extremely sandy soils 
it appears that the best crop rotation for this class of land 
