Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-13
GRADY COUNTYSO|LS
OF VARIOUS KINDS
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS SHOW
POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT Of
AGRICULTURE IN GEORGIA
COUNTY IN SURVEY.

! WASHINGTON, d. c., April lO.-The bu-
reau of soils of the United States depart
ment of agriculture is about to issue
report on tine soil survey of Grady county,
Georgia, made by H. H. Bennett and
party of experts from the bureau. The re-
port is a very interesting one and deals
with the different types or soils what
they are best adapted to. their condition,
and how they may be improved. The
most important feature of the report deals
with the possible development of agricul-
ture in the county. The paragraph in
question says:
There are great opportunities for the
future development of agriculture in
/ Grady county. The soils are adapted to
an exceptionally wide range of crops and
suitable land can be bought at very mod
crate prices. 1t is safe to say that few
sections OFFER more attractive inducements
to the man of small means or to the cap
italist desiring to engage in either special
lied or general farming
Summary of Report
The summary of the report follows
| Sugar cane for syrup. shade-grown and
sungrown Sumatra cigar wrapper to-
bacco, Cuban filler cigar tobacco, long
staple cotton, and watermelons are spe-
cial crops that are proving a success.
! Irish and sweet potatoes, cantaloupes and
other truck crops are specialties, the pro-
duction of which could be profitably ex-
tended. In addition to the above, the usual
staple crops of the south are produced
| to advantage.
. THE soils range all the way from loan
! to loose sand. Their organic matter con-
tent is higher and the power to retain
the moisture greater than in many coast
al plain sections.
| 1.-THE Norfolk fine sandy loan was map
ped in three phases according to differ
ences in crop value, as. determined by diff
ferences in soil depth The shallow phase
| is well suited to cotton, oats. peanuts
and forage crops, but is too heavy for best
results with tobacco, corn, sugarcane, wa
termelons. potatoes, and truck generally.
The medium deep phase is the best sugar.
cane and Sumatra cigar-wrapper tobacco
soil of this general region. 1t also pro-
duces good corn, sweet and Irish pota-
toes, forage crops, and vegetables, and
| fair cotton. Pecans, pears. piurns, and
grapes do well The dry phase makes very
fair corn, excellent sugarcane syrup, and
various vegetables, but Is rather too
droughty for tobacco without irrigation.
The varieties OF cotton grown are inclined
to go too much to weed on this phase. All
crops require extra heavy applications OF
fertilizers and manure, especially organic
manures.
Norfolk Fine Sand
,, 1.-THE Norfolk fine sand is very simial
in its crop adaptation to the deep phase
of the Norfolk fine sandy loan. but it is
little more droughty and makes some
what lighter average yields. 1t is good
vegetable but rather poor cotton soil.
1.-THE Norfolk sandy loan produces very
fair yield of a great quantity of vege-
tables and forage crops. Cotton does well
where the depth to the subsoil is not over
IS inches, as also do peanuts and potatoes.
Sugarcane. corn and sweet potatoes do
best where the surface soil depth ranges
from 10 to about 20 inches. Strawberries,
cantaloupes, and cucumbers would do
very well. A fair to medium grade of
wra PIPER tobacco can be grown where the
SOIL with a depth of from about 10 to 20
inches to subsoil, is of the finer texture.
The crop yields on the type average some
thing less than on the Norfolk fine sandy
loan.
1.-THE Norfolk sand is a loose, rather
droughty soil, which requires heavy FER
tilization, particularly with organic man
ures, for profitable returns. Crops ike
IhaIf-matured cowpeas should be turned
under occasionally to improve the struc-
ture of the SOIL This is a warm soil well
suited to early vegetables. The varieties
Of cotton grown go badly to weed in wet
years and suffer from rust in dry years.
Gravelly Sandy Loan
1.-THE Norfolk gravelly sandy loan is the
all-round best cotton soil of the county,
making with proper treatment from one
half to one bale per acre. Heavy yields
of sugar cane syrup are secured. but the
color is usually a little darker than that
produced on the lighter soils. Corn, oats
and forage crops succeed very well; wat
ermelons, cantaloupes, and sweet potatoes
do fairly WELL Extra early vegetables
can be grown, but as a general rule the
type is not admirably adapted to truck
crops long staple or Sea Island cotton
does probably better on this than on
any other type, with the possible excep-
ton of the 'pimply' areas of the Norfolk
sandy loan and fine sandy loan. which
give about the same results.
1.-The Orangeburg fine sandy loan is
admirably adapted to the production of
the Cuban type of cigar filler tobacco.
Cotton, Irish potatoes, oats and forage
crops do well. The soil depth should be
at least ten inches for the best results
with Irish potatoes. Corn, peanuts. sweet
potatoes and watermelons do fairly well.
Heavy yields of sugar cane syrup are
made, but often the color is quite dark,
comes near the surface. Vegetables as
rule are only moderately successful. |
Pecans pears, figs and plums do we'll.
1.-The Orapgeburg sandy loan is adopt |
ed to about the same crops as the Orange
burg fine sandy loan, but the yields av-
erage little less than those on the latter
type.
Orangeburg Fine Sand
1.-The Orangeburg fine sand makes very
fair yields OF corn, forage crops and
truck The varieties Of cotton grown are
inclined to go badly to weed in wet sea-
DOTTTTRV