The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

Savannah. Ca. has been published by
the Bureau Of Soils OF the Department
Of Agriculture in the form Of a circu-
lar from the department
The circular gives a brief description
OF the country around Savannah, with
particular reference to its surface fea-
lures and drainage and in regard to the
soils in that vicinity. In addition, IL
gives "A concise summary OF the climatic
conditions. comparing these with the
similar conditions around Jacksonville.
Fla; Charleston. S. c., and Wilmington.
y c. In this way, both the soil and
climatic features, which favor the coun-
try around Savannah in the production
Of truck crops. are directly compared
with the soils and climate OF the princi-
pal trucking centers along the entire
South Atlantic coast.
Soils Chiefly sandy,
The materials comprising Chatham
County. in common with other coastal
plain counties, are principally uncon-
solidated sands and clays, with occasional
minor deposits OF gravel This material
has been eroded from the surface Of In
land regions and transported seaward by
ancient streams. 20 be deposited as thick
stratifed beds Of marine and river sedl-
ments.
The upland portion Of Chatham County
is built up Of notified clsys and sandy
clays probably of Lafayette age, gen
orally covered from few inches TO many
feet by the yellow 90 gray sands ana
sandy loans of the Columbia formation
The light gray 10 yellow fine sand, the
fine sandy loan, and the sandy clay OF
all the higher elevations consist or such
materials. while the mOttled sandy clay,
which outcrops along the lower slopes
Of the ridges and is found in the deeper
railway cuts was probably formed as a
marine sediment in Lafayette time.
Modified I'm Flat Country.
On the level uplands and in the minor
depressions between ridges the marine
deposits Of the Columbia formation have
been locally modified. because Of in
sufficient drainage and the accumulation
Of considerable amounts OF partly de-
cayed organic matter This has given
rise 10 a mucky black. dark brown, or
dark gray surface soil. varying from n
few inches 10 three or four feet IN depth.
The county also contains along the
rivers considerable areas Of tide-marsh
lands OF alluvial origin. A part of this
land was formerly reclaimed and planted
20 rice but this occupation has practi-
cally ceased IN recent years. The sur
face of the tide marshes is covered by
turf or peat, or by partly decayed or
Eanlc matter and silt The subsOh is
most frequently a drab or gray silt clay
It Is saturated at high tide and practi-
cally occupied only by swamp vegeta-
Ha.aa 40
for agricultural use.
These different materials, under the
varied conditions Of their derivation. de-
position. and recent condition, have given
rise to soils Of the Norfolk and Ports
mouth series, in addition 70 the tide
marshes and coast sands.
Like Soils at Norfolk.
In the brief preliminary examination
OF the soils about Savannah It was possi-
bic 10 identify with precision two Of the
more important members each of the
Norfolk and Portsmouth series. That
other members Of both series are assc-
ciated with these was also observed. but
only the more extensive and al the same
time more directly valuable trucking soils
were examined in any detail
The types Of the Norfolk series are
marked by light gray TO yellow sandy
surface soils. underlaid by yellow sandy
or sandy clay subsoils. The soils of
this entire series. from It's more northern
extension southwark TO the Gun Coast
section. are special purpose rather than
general farming soils. The series COM
pr!ses the most important truck soils
Of the coastal plain, Each OF the soils
Of this series is adapted 10 a great variety
OF truck crops Moreover the several
soils OF the series. differing IN texture.
all occur IN nearly every part Of the
coast section, and give opportunity In
each locality for growing both early and
late truck crops. At the same time the
support Of the work stock, the preser-
walton Of The soil from erosion, and the
maintenance Of the organic matter Of
the soil by occasional green manurirg
can be provided for by growing the neces-
sary forage and cover crops, 10 which
most OF the members of the series are
adapted in greater or less degree.
The Norfolk fine sand is identical with
the extensive areas of this type which
have been investigated along the At
lantic coast from the Potomac River
south.
Warm, Early Soil.
Because Of its thickness over the un-
derlying sandy clay. its elevated position.
and its moderate p0rosity. it is natural
~ a welI-drained, vccm. and early soil,
especially we'll suited 70 the forcing OF
winter and early spring crops 20 quick
maturity. IN the vicinity OF Savannah
few IL any slopes or grades occur with.
IN this soil type, such as 20 render ma
chine cultivation difficult or 10 impose
the necessity Of contour cultivation 10
prevent erosion.
As a result, the greater portion Of the
Norfolk fine sand is either cultivated OF
available for clearing and cultivation
whenever the possibilities OF profitable
market gardening and trucking may war
rant an extension OF the TILED area.
Truck FnrmS DO Well.
In the immediate vicinity OF savannah
are several truck farms which IN
clude areas Of the Norfolk fine sand
Its easy cultivation and the rap
idity with which crops planted upor
il mature are locally known and ap.
preciated. To this local evidence Of its
especial availability for truck growing
may be added the statement that the
Norfolk fine sand Is the earliest winter
and spring truck soil along the Middle
and South Atlantic coasts, which at the
same time is sufficiently retentive OF
moisture 20 assure the maturity OF
medium 20 large Yields per acre.
portion OF the trucking industry az
present established near Savannah is con-
Quoted upon the Norfolk fine sand. The
largest acreage given 70 any one croT
is planted to early Irish potatoes The
seed used is chiefly Northern grown and
the potatoes are planted about February
J. The tubers have usually reached mar
ketable size by May Is. and the crop is
harvested from that date 10 June 10.
This clears the ground in sufficient time
for the production Of another crop OF
potatoes for seed, or. better. for the
production OF a summer crop OF cowpeas