4 
jST. C. Experiment Station 
The INTissen farm is fairly representative of the heavily timbered 
areas, having been reclaimed from forests of “Juniper,” Chamaecy- 
paris tliyoides, Cypress, Taxodium Disticlnum, Gum, Nyssa sps ., and 
other kinds of tree growth, while the soil at the Branch Farm supported, 
principally, a growth of reeds, Arundinaria sps. with hut little timber. 
As has been stated, the yields of corn were very satisfactory follow¬ 
ing the first burning. Later experience, however, has shown that many 
tracts of the cleared soil are incapable of supporting the original high 
yields. The decrease at the Wenona farm was noticeable after the first 
year’s crop, while on the bfissen farm the yield was maintained for 
several years. 
This difference has, quite logically, been ascribed to differences in 
the amount of ash furnished by the timber residues. It is probable, 
however, that the original vegetation on the Branch Farm was limited 
by deficiency of the soil in plant ash components so that, in the last 
analysis, the two soils differ in crop-producing power as a result of 
fundamental differences in composition. Supporting this idea is the fact 
that now, several years after the last burning, the unlimed soil at the 
Branch Farm will hardly produce enough corn to harvest, while the 
soil at Terra Ceia will yield from 20 to 30 bushels to the acre without 
lime. It would seem, too, that if the plant food components of the 
ashes supplied by the burning were the sole cause of the original high 
yields, it should be possible through liming and fertilization to maintain 
the productivity of the soil. The break-down in the texture of the soil 
and the resultant retardation of drainage may have been caused by the 
decay of roots which served, as a skeletal support for the deposits when 
first drained. 
Summary of Field Observations 
Liming is essential to corn production at the Branch Farm, but fer¬ 
tilization with a mixture of dried blood, acid phosphate and potash 
salts either alone or with lime has been without effect. At the bfissen 
farm, liming has only recently become a profitable practice though 
certain fertilizer treatments have given remarkable results. In no case 
does it seem that the original high yields have been attained as a con¬ 
sequence of liming or fertilization. 
Summarizing the results of experiments on these soils and the experi¬ 
ence of men familiar with the district, the following observations are 
of interest: 
1. Application of lime, stable manure, nitrate of soda and kainit, 
either separately or in combination, increase the yield of corn. 
2. Acid phosphate causes a-marked depression in the yield. 
3. Corn grown on experimental plats on the Elssen farm showed 
evidence of the accumulation of iron in the nodal tissue, except when 
grown under treatments producing the highest yields. Otherwise the 
