The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-14
JEFFERSON COUNTY
SOIL SURVEY MADE
Report Is Made at Request of
Congressman Underwood
MANY KINDS OF SOIL
Farm Lands of Jefferson Produce Corn,
Cotton and Truck and Report Says
That Systematic Rotation of
Crops Is Needed
MANY KINDS OF SOIL

washington, May 13.-(Speclal)-I lie
United States department of agriculture
has just issued the report on the soil
survey of jefferson county, Alabama by
Howard C. Smith of bureau of soils and
E. S. Pace of the Alabama department
of agriculture and industries, copies of
which may be obtained upon application.
The report is accompanied by a large,
colored map showing the location and
extent of various soil types found in the
area. The survey was made at the re-
quest of Representative Underwood. The
following is summary of the report:
The Jefferson county area lies in the
north central part of the state of Ala
bama and comprises 1880 acres or 11A
square miles. 1t Is the seat of most ex-
tensive coal, iron and limestone deposits
in the south.
The county has two main topographic
divisions-the Cahaba valley and the val
leys of Jones and Opossum creeks, and
the much dissected upland to the north
and west of these valleys. The eleva-
ton varies from less than 240 to 400 feet,
with an average of 500 to 800 feet above
the sea.
The important rivers are Little Cahaba,
Warrior and Locust Fork.
Transportation facilities are good. In
addition to nine main railroads there is
an excellent system of macadamized
roads.
The principal cities and towns are Bir-
mingham, with it's numerous suburbs, and
Bessemer, Ensley, Leeds, Trussville and
Warrior.
The climate Is exceptionally mild and
favorable to wide variety of staple and
special crops. Snow is rare, and freezing
weather seldom lasts for more than a
few days each winter. The rainfall is
ample for crop growth and generally we'll
distributed throughout the year.
Industrial development has stimulated
trucking and general produce farming.
The staple crops in general are corn and
cotton, with some forage crops. Dairying
interests are being extended.
Farm labor is chiefly colored and is
we'll paid, owing to competition with the
mines and other industrial enterprises
Deeper blowing and more frequent tillage
should be practiced.
Winter cover crops should be sown on
all cotton and corn fields in order to
prevent erosion and teaching, and at the
same time to add humus to the soil.
Systematic rotation should be intro
duced. More hogs and farm stocks should
be kept Goats and sheep will do well
in forested portions and on non-agricul-
tural land.
Thirteen soil types representing eight
series were mapped in the country AS
regards manner of formation these soils
are OF two broad classes, namely. alluvial
and residual
The alluvial soils are the wabash clay,
Huntington gravelly loan and Huntington
silt loam The first two are important
soils, but of limited extent. The last
named Is a very strong soil and is a
fsvorite for the growing of corn and
truck.
The residual limestone soils include the
Decatur clay loan, Hagerstown stony
loan, Hagerstown loan and the Clarks-
Vile stony loan.
The Decatur clay loan is a strong soil,
but the bulk of the type Is located close
prices for building sites. 1t Is naturally
suited to wide range of crops. and with
careful tillage and the use of manures
can be profitably used for trucking.
The Hagerstown stony loan Is well
adapted to fruit growing and to the usual
farm crops
The Hagerstown loan is good general
farming soil. and its use for market gar
dening is increasing.
The Clarksville stony loan is the best
soil for the growing of tree and bush
fruits. Systematic orcharding would be
very profitable here.
The DeKalb shale loan. residual from
shale, occurs in the rougher upland coun-
try. Hillsides have many of the physical
characteristics OF the grape soils of the
northern states. The famous scuppernong
grape grows especially we'll on the hilly
ridge and slopes. The type is susceptible
of Improvement and under modern meth
DDS is profitable farming soil. Where
the slopes permit Irish potatoes will sue
coed. 1t is better adapted to Irish than
to sweet potatoes.
The DeKalb silt loan Is of very wide ex-
tent, and has certain variations of tex
ture that make 1t favorite for general
farming and trucking. Market gardening
will prove more profitable on this type
than any other form of agriculture.