The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-08

while the adjacent sandy up-lands of ten need potash to prevent cotton rust and to induce heavy fruiting. So va- ried are the soils of the State and so different are their adaptations, manu- rial and cultural requirements that any general agricultural advice for the State at large would be more likely to miss than to hit
 There are thousands of farms in Alabama that embrace many varieties of soil; a single field often includes all grades of land from heavy compact clay to loose coarse sand.
 And so do the many types of soil throughout the State of Alabama dif- fer each from the other to some degree in their relation to the proper crop to grow, or method of cultivation and kind of fertilizer to use How is the farmer to get at the bottom of this soil adaptation question? How is he to know what variety of cotton to use, when 1t Is known that a variety bred up on given soil may lose all the im- provement gained through years of seed selection when planted upon soil of entirely a different character, as is true of the Sea Island cotton which, when taken from It's native home along the coast to the interior up lands rap Idly looses its identity and length of staple. Similarly variety bred up on the cold natured clay in the northern part of the State would likely lose its valuable characteristics when grown on the sandy lands of the Gulf coast re- zion.
 ITO solve such problems and to cor rect those old style hit-or-miss meth ods that have been chung to so persist ently. lies within the domain of the soil surveyl. By this survey every body of land of any considerable size will be shown in different colors on an &C., curate map so that any one at glance can determine the character of the soil In a given locality. The report to ac- company the map in pamphlet form. will point out the exact crop adapta- tions of each type as well as the best methods of handling the different soils. so far as Is known from actual farm results and conclusive experiments.
 Ultimately the requirements of each soil will be worked out with such ac- curacy that 1t will simply be neces- sary for a farmer In any part of the State to ascertain his grade of land from the soil map, and write the ex- pertinent station or the National De- partment of Agriculture in order to be advised as to the best crop, cultural method or fertilizer suited to his farm. The attainment of this desirable stage in agricultural advancement rests up- on careful and exhaustlYe inVestlga- ton and tests: but that 1t can be reacn- ed by the aid Of a complete soil map of the State and by intelligent and un- tiring effort, cannot be denied.
 The Bureau of Soils is receiving a great many inquiries in regard to the crop adaptations and capabilities of the soils of Baldwin County and other parts of the State. As soon as the Bureau can complete a survey of Baldwin, there will be issued a report including the results of the work which will be for free distribution to prospective land purchasers, as well as the farmers Of the county. There is no other pos- sible means by which the value and capabilities of the lands of the State can be as advantageously brought be- fore the public. Surveys made in the black belt of this State and Mississip- pi. have shown that the Houston soils of that region comprise probably the best alfalfa lands east of the Missis- sippi river"