The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-02
SO|L SURVEY OF
 CALHOUN COUNTY Advance Sheets Issued By the Agricultural Department WITH STATE COOPERATION The County Has a Large Variety of Soils Adopted to Fruit Growing and to Truckine-Land Values
 Are Advancing.
WITH STATE COOPERATION

vance sheets of the report of the soil survey of Calhoun county, Alabama 1 which was undertaken in 1908 under the cooperative arrangement existing be- tween the bureau of soils and the state of Alabama. The report was made by Lewis A. Hurst, an expert of the bureau of soils, and Philip H. Avary of the | Alabama department of agriculture and I industries, and an inter sting summary follows:
 Calhoun county is located in the north western part of Alabama. It lies almost entirely within the Coosa valley and con tains total area of 397, 40 acres, or 621 square miles. The topography is gener- ally rolling to hilly or mountainous, with elevations ranging from about 600 feet in the valleys to more than 2O00 feet above sea level upon the mountains. All the drainage waters of the county find an outlet through the Coosa and Alabama rivers to the Gulf of Mexico.
 'The transportation facilities include four railroads and the Coosa river, which is navigable from Lock No. 4 in Talla- dega county, to Rome, Ga.
 Mild Climate.
 "rhe climate is mild and equable. The mean annual temperature ranges from A degrees Fahrenheit in winter to v degrees Fahrenheit in summer. The aver age dates of the first and last killing frosts are October 20 and April ?. The mean annual precipitation is slightly less than 50 inches and is evenly distributed throughout the growing season.
 "The climate is adapted to a wide range of diversified agriculture and is especially well suited to stock raising on account of the mild winters, which makes it possible to pasture stock practically the year round The water supply is ob- tained from springs and wells.
 Cotton and corn are the staple crops. The growing of cowpeas. peanuts, clover and other legumes have done much to build up the lands, but this practice is limited to a few of the more progressive farmers, who operate their own farms. Their use should be extended. Forestry, together with stock grazing, Including cattle, sheep and goats, should be more generally practiced on the rougher moun- tainous lands; also more fruit and truck should be grown.
 ..The land values in the county have slightly advanced in the last few years and range from g. .50 an acre on the hill lands to from s10 to $40 an acre in the valleys, while some of the improved bot tom lands bring as high as s60 to s7o an acre.
 Soils of County.
 "The soils of the county are derived directly or indirectly from limestone. sand- stone and shale. Eighteen distinct types are shown on the accompanying soil map.
 "The DeKalb stony loam occupies the foothills of the mountains, and is derived largely from the weathering Of the un- deriving sandstones. It is mostly In forest growth, but when put under cul- tivation fair yields of corn and cotton have been obtained. It is we'll suited to peaches and light trucking and Is val ued at $5 to $20 an acre.
 ..The Montevallo shale loam Is derived from the weathering of sandstones and variegated shades of the Montevallo geo. logical formation. Its topography is hilly to mountainous The type is largely in native timber, but these areas under cul- tiyation yield from 10 to 20 bushels of corn and from one-fourth to one-half bale of cotton per acre. It Is held at s10 to S20 an acre and Is valued chiefly for It's timber, mineral resources and it's use for pasture.
 "The Decatur stony loam Is a rolling to hilly soil, with good drainage. It yields one-half to three-fourths bale of cotton, 10 to 20 bushels of corn, and 20 to 40 bushels of oats per acre, and Is well adapted to fruit. It's valuation Is from $S to $20 an acre.
 Decatur Loam.
 "The Decatur loam Is of limestone ori- gin and occupies moderately rolling val ley lands with excellent drainage. It Is well suited to corn cotton, oats, clover, cowpeas, fruits and vegetables, and is valued at SIP to $20 an acre.
 ''The Decatur clay loam is one of the strongest soils in the area and Is de- rived from the underlying limestones. The topography is usually fiat to gently undulatng and the soil Is we'll suited to the use of labor-saving machinery. Be- ing one of the heavier types. it Is diffi- cult to handle, but when properly man aged it yields one-half to one bale of cotton per acre and 30 to 50 bushels of crib per acre. It is practically all under cultivation, and is valued at $15 to S5O an acre.
 "The Holston gravelly sandy loam is partly of alluvial and partly of residual l origin. Cotton and corn are the prin- 1 cipal crops, the former yielding from | one-fourth to one-third bale per acre and l tHc idltcr lu tO ID DupIciS pOi SSiS' Fine Sandy Loam.
 1.-The Holston fine sandy loam has a l gently rolling surface and Is well drained. | Cotton and corn are the chief crops. It is also adapted to hay and early truck. This type is valued at $o to sSC an acre, depending on location.
 "The DeKalb loam, DeKalb shale loam and Conasauga clay are derived from shale. They are easily eroded and are difficult to handle, but when first cleared and put under cultivation fair yields | of cotton and corn are produced. IheS are well suited to cowpeas, Johnson orchard and Bermuda grass, and shoulc be used more for these crops. It IS usual 1 ly necessary to construct terraces 10 pre- vent washing. This could be prevented largely by the growing of winter clover crops They are valued at s5 to $20 ar acre.
 "The Clarksville stony loam. gravell, sandy loam, and loam are all derived from weathering of the moresiliceous o cherty imestones. The stony loan typ is usually more rugged and less suite' to general farming purposes than th' other members of the series. 1t Is wei adapted to peaches. The gravelly sand! loam and loam are adapted 10 apples plums pears and small fruits. The! are also we'll suited to hay and pastur and are valued at $2.50 to s10 an acre.
 Huntington Loan.
 'The Huntington fine sandy loam an the Huntington silt loafn are of ailuvla origin and are formed from material transported long distances or washed Il from the surrounding upland. They ar well adapted to corn, hay wheat oats and pasture, but are rarely used TO l cotton except the better drained area