11 
tion with nitrogen gave slight decreases in yield, but in the case of 
plats 9 and 10 where applied with phosphoric acid, and with nitrogen 
and phosphoric acid, the yields were larger than on plats 4 and 5. 
The increase of number 10 over number 6 is very marked, so much 
so that it brings up the average gain for potash to 3.3 bushels per 
acre as compared to a loss of .85 bushel on the Porter’s clay. 
Lime alone gave an increase of 13.14 bushels and in combination 
with nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, 6 bushels. This large 
increase in lime is probably due to the liberation of the plant food 
supply in the soil, especially nitrogen. 
Table 4 gives the chemical and mineralogical composition of this 
field. 
The chemical analysis of this soil shows that there is enough potash 
in the surface 6% inches to furnish a supply for maximum crops for 
nearly 1,000 years. While the greater part of this potash is in the 
form of the micas much of it is in the form of the felspars, especially 
orthococlase. The biotite content here is comparatively fresh in the 
topsoil, little of it showing alteration to chlorite. This mineral, how¬ 
ever, does show alteration in the subsoil. The phosphoric acid content 
is about the same as in Porter’s clay in the Blantyre field, all apatite 
encountered is the form of inclusions in quartz. The nitrogen supply 
in this soil will not furnish a one hundred bushel corn crop for over 5 
years. 
Results on the Buncombe Test Farm. 
• 
This farm which contains some 300 acres, is owned and operated 
by the State Department of Agriculture. It includes a large section 
of Swannanoa valley land, which is representative Toxaway loam, and 
considerable tillable upland which is typical Porter’s loam. Fertilizer 
results on this farm should be applicable to extensive areas in prac¬ 
tically all the mountain counties of the State. 
PORTER’S SANDY LOAM, HENDERSONVILLE TEST FIELD. 
Other than Quartz in 
Less Abundant Minerals in 
Remarks 
Silt 
Sand 
Silt 
Muscovite, biotite, 
orthoclase 
Microcline, zircon, 
plagioclase, horn¬ 
blende, magnetite, 
rutile, chlorite, 
apatite as inclusions 
Zircon, hornblende, 
plagioclase, mag¬ 
netite, rutile 
Potash bearing minerals are 
well preserved. Quartz 
grains are angular to sub- 
angular. 
Muscovite, biotite 
orthoclase 
Microcline, rutile, 
zircon, plagioclase, 
hornblende, pyrox¬ 
ene, chlorite, mag¬ 
netite 
Hornblende, rutile, 
zircon, chlorite, 
microcline, plagio¬ 
clase 
Some of the minerals show 
deep seated chemical alter¬ 
ation. Orthoclase is quite 
fresh. Quartz subangular, 
and some secondary. 
