The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-08-18
INVESTIGATING SOIL VALUES.
Work of Government in South Shows
Vast Possibilities.

|
of recent work done by the bureau
of soils, under the direction of the
secretary of agriculture. This bureau
! has just completed an exhaustive in
vestigation of the soils of more than
| 80 million acreas in the Atlantic and
| Gulf States. The soils investigated
were those especially adapted under
extensive culture to early fresh vege-
tables, of which these States have a
clear monopoly in the Northern mar
kets from January until the last of
| June. When it is realized that the
South must supply vegetables for
more than two-thirds of the United
States for more than half the year,
the enormous possibilities of this in
dustry can be appreciated.
The Investigations showed that
about per cent. of the acreage men
toned is capable of yielding far more
per acre under scientific and up-to-
date methods than by the hit-and
miss farming so commonly in vogue
among the Southern truck farmers. Of
the vast area, only 1 IA million
acres are incapable of being prohta-
bly, farmed; these, however, may be
put in profitable forests. Nearly
million acreas are especially adapted
to early and extra-early vegetables,
especially turnips, radishes, lettuce,
peas, string beans, Irish potatoes,
beets, cucumbers, watermelons and
cantaloupes. Nearly three million
acres are we'll suited for early crops
OF the same varieties maturing about
two weeks later, especially to early
squash, peppers, sweet potatoes, okra,
tomatoes, lima beans, spinach and
cabbage. Four and half million
acres are of sandy loam adapted to
vegetables which mature for market
at medium period and on which the
lightest type of general farming
comes in with early crops and light
yields.
Ten million acres constitute fine,
sandy loan which may be prof1tably
used for vegetables for medium late
spring market and a light type OF
general farming. There are 1 1-2
million acres of loan, the best gen.
eral purpose soil, adapted to vege-
tables for the late spring market.
These are the last that can be served
in a fresh state from this territory,
holding a monopoly in the Northern
market. More than two million acres
are classified as silt loan, we'll fitted
to canning crops and heavy general
farming, with about equal adapta-
tions to wheat and grass. Four mill
lion acres of clay adapted to heavy
farming and ensilage forage crops
make up the remainder.
In the sixteen former slave States,
including Oklahoma, there was 49,
100000 acres planted to general
crops. There are more than 612,-
100000 acres of unimproved land in
these States. Texas has 167, 100000
acres of virgin land, though much of
it is used for grazing. Florida has
more than 35,OO0,000 acres of as
rich land as any in the world, now
classed as worthless "Everglades." "
These are being rapidly reclaimed by
private enterprise.
Alabama has 33,O0O,000 acres not
utilized, and Arkansas as, much.
Louisiana has 3O,OOO,OO0 acres of
swamps, which, if drained, would
rival the fatness of the Nile Valley.
There are in Mississippi more than
3O,OOO,OOO acres now awaiting the
thrifty immigrant and Missouri has
44,0O0,0OO also awaiting the plough,
if we include her rich swamps on the
river. Georgia has 38,000,0O0, and
North Carolina 100000 acres OF
unimproved lands. South Carolina
has 26,OO0,OO0, and Tennessee has
100000 acres of such lands. V1r-
ginia has an unimproved area as
large as that of Tennessee, while
Kentucky has 26,OOO,OO0 acreas and
West Virginia 100000. Mary
land has only about 100000 acres
unimproved.
AS for the swamps, most Of them
growing fine timber, though under
water for nine months of the year,
they will be unfit for cultivation to
any extended extent unless drained.
To drain the swamps of the South
would be a stupendious enterprise
dwarfing the first continetal railroad
or the Panama canal.
But our American people have
learned that our constitution is fiexl-
BILE enough for any good and practl-
oo1 n,,rnose and if only remains for