The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
SURVEYING The SOIL
FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN
Many Parties Sent Out by
Department Of Agriculture.
GREAT BENEFIT TO FARMERS
Information Given Them as to Fertil-
izers and Crops Best Suited to
Their Respective Localities.
GREAT BENEFIT TO FARMERS

Milton Whitney. chief of the bureau OF
soils. of the Agricultural Department, is
now engaged in directing the operations
of twenty soil survey parties. which are
working in different sections of the
country. No one State or Territory is
favored in the surveys, and the parties
are scattered from ocean to ocean.
F. E. BonsteeI and Mr. Carter will
spend nine months surveying the soils Of
worcester county, Md, and Kent county,
Del, and If time permits, will survey
that part OF the District of Columbia
within the Prince George county soil
map. Mr.. Fippin and NJ. Earl Carr will
spend six months IN Connecticut. and in
October will begin the survey of a part
of the Harpers Ferry sheet in Virginia.
Important results have been obtained
by these soil surveys, and on the infor-
nation furnished by them, the Agricul-
turaI Department has started a number
of new industries, which have proved OF
great value to farmers and manufactur-
ers. An instance of the kind is to be
found in the Introduction of Cuban to-
bacco into Texas.
Like Cuban Soils.
There are sections OF that State suit
ed to tobacco growing which have soils
closely resembling the soils of the dis
tricts of Cuba, which produce the best
tobacco When this was learned, expert
ments were instituted to see what could
be done in the way of raising high grade
Cuban tobacco in Texas. The expert
they are progressing favorably, and the
indications are that tobacco plantations
will become an important feature OF the
agricultural industry of the State.
4 study of the soils of the Southern
States resulted in the introduction OF
new plants to be raised in conjunction
with cotton and many experiments and
Investigations are now under way to
find other crops which can be grown
with profit in districts now almost
wholly given to cotton. Tea is one
plant which is studied for the special
benefit of the Southerners, and before
many years it is probable that great
quantities of tea will be grown in this
country. The sugar beet is also at
tracing much attention from the tie
consisting of Messrs. Hearn and Bur
CESS, will make a study of the country
around Norfolk. Neb.. to determine the
area OF the sugar beet lands IN that
region
Surveys of Vital Importance.
Not only are new crops raised be-
cause of information derived from the
surveys. but important suggestions are
made about methods of improving the
cultivation OF staple crops. A careful
chemical analysis of the soil frequently
enables the experts to prove to the
farmer that he has been for years using
the wrong kind of fertilizer or has moi
been cultivating the land in manner
to insure the best returns, and by act
ing on the advice of the surveyors the
production is frequently increased TO {
surprising extent.
The soils of irrigable lands are care
fully examined to determine what crops
would suit them best after an irrigation
system has been installed. Three of the
soil survey parties this year viii work
on the irrigable lands. One Will go tc
Baker City, Ore, another to the
Laramie area, and the third to Provo
City and Palmyra, Utah.