The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-05-21

tioning the wisdom, under the condi-
lions involved, of APP lying more pot
ash on potatoes than any other in
gradients
With the foregoing results, relat-
ing largely to sandy soils, and indi-
eating that potash is not specially
needed on the particular ones refer
red to in mind, we are led Ito put it
mildly to think as to whether or not
the prevailing opinion among the
farmers in the eastern, or sandy soil,
section of this State is correct, when
they maintain that their soils are not
specially in need of phOsphoric acid,
and that aside from nitrogen, potash
is the most needed and beneficial
constituent of their fertilizers for
all crops. This question appears all
the more worthy of thought, when
it is known that the farmers of North
Carolina will pay this year for COM
mercial fertilizers not less than
Sc, 600, 600, practically 81, 500, 900 being
for phosphoric acid, So, 500, 900 for
nitrogen and 81, 200, 900 for potash.
If n of these constituents is not
needed, or is used in greater proper
ton than necessary, it would mean a
tremendous saving to the agriculture
of the State, if reasonably positive
proof of the fact could be given. The
only reasonable way of obtaining
such evidence is by a systematic in
vestigation of the soils of the sec
ton or of the State and determine
ton of their adaptability to the plant
food requirements of the crops grown
or to be grown upon them. The i'm
portance and magnitude of the prob
lem, as measured by the expendi-
lures for fertilizers Ito say nothing
of the greater profit that might come
from increased crop production, JUS
titles, if it does not indeed demand,
that such work be done.
The division of soils of the United
States Department of Agriculture
has, by the systematic and uniform
methods adopted, greatly increased
the efficiency and value of soil work.
In cooperation with that division Of
the national government, the State
Department of Agriculture made last
year a soil survey of a strip of land
eight miles wide-four miles on
either side of the railrOad-and eX-
tending from Raleigh to Newbern,
embracing about 900 square miles, in
the counties of Wake, Johnston,
Wayne, Lenoir, Craven and Jones.
In this work all of the soil Of the
area was gone over and carefully ex-
amined by an experienced judge of
soils, and wherever in the area sur
veyed the same soil was found, it was
indicated on accurately prepared
maps by the same color. This map
snow in course of preparation by the
Division of Soils and will show, when
out, the outlines and areas of the
several soil types occurring between
Raleigh and Newbern. At the time
this work was done, samples of vir-
gin and cultivated soils we're taken
for chemical and physical examina
ton. Fifty of the these have been
examined chemically in our labora
tory, and the other $50 belonging to
this area will be completed, we hope,
during the summer. Nothing is
being spared to make the analysis as
complete and thorough as possible.
At present there are several par
ties engaged in surveying II 900
sIuare mile section, included, mainly,
in the counties of Iredell, DAVE and
Rowan, with small strips of Meek
lenburg, Lincoln and Catawba. Prog
ress indicates that this area will be
completed by July 1, when the east
ern section will be again entered and
d considerable area, we hope, added
to that examined there last year.
This is one phase of the sOil-work
in which the Department Of Agricul-
ture is engaged 1t does nor, how
ever, propose to depend entirely
upon these field observations and on
the chemical and physical analyses
of the soils, but rather to make them
the ground plan for classifying and
grouping the soils of the State into
type areas with the view of conduct
ing thorough and systematic fertili-
zer, culture and other tests on the
main soil areas-actually asking OF
the plants themselves on the partic-
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