Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-07
INTERESTING SOIL SURVEY
OF GEORGIA COUNTY MADE
BY UNITED STATES BUREAU
Report on Character of Soils to What Crops They Are Best
Adapted, Improvement Methods and Large CoOred Map
Shows Conditions of County

Of public roads and a good rural free
delivery service reaching all sections.
The eastern half OF the county has ade-
ouate railroad facilities, but the western
half is from 10 to 20 miles from the
nearest stations. A branch line from
Lavonia or Canon TO Gainesville should
be built Lavonia and Royston are the
chief towns and local marketing cen
tiers.
The climate is mild, healthful. and
adapted TO a diversity Of farming inter-
ests. The growing season is nearly sew
en- and a half months long, or some two
or three weeks shorter than in the
coastal plain region Of tn. sJate.
Cotton and corn are the only crops
grown TO any extent, although the soils
and climatic conditions are favorable
for the growing Of a number of Other
crops. More attention should be given
to the growing of forage ana the raising
OF live stock. Dairy farming might be
introduced. The sandy areas best pro-
tected from frosts are well suited 10
commercial peach growing
The farms contain from 20 to 800
acres. About 80 per cent Of the farms
are operated by the owners, the TO
mainder being operated mainly by white
tenants.
Farm Iaborers receive from so to rs
cents a day and from SO to SIS a month.
with board or rations and a house in ad-
dition.
Land values are rapidly advancing.
The best lands can be bought for SOS
20 $50 an acre. except near the towns.
where some OF the choicest areas COM
mand SO or more an acre. The rough
clay and stony areas sell for $40 to $50
an acre.
REGARDING SOILS.
The soils are residual or alluvial.
The residual soils are derived from an
cient metamorphic and igneous rocks
of a highly crystalline nature. Four
types were recognized IN the upland.
Three Of these are members OF the Ce-
ell series and the other. an unimportant
type. was mapped as the Iradell clay
loan. The alluvial areas were all group
ed as Meadow on account of their limited
extent and wet condition.
The Cecil sandy loan is the best
developed type In the county 1t is
adapted to all of the crops of the sec
ton, besides number of others that
areas could be used TO advantage in
growing peaches. Dairy farming and
the raising of stock offer promising, re-
suits
The Cecil clay is the most extensive
type in the county and the better areas
are about as highly priced as the Cecil
sandy loan. 1t is best adapted to cot
ton. clover. grasses and pasturage. Good
yields of wheat could be produced
The Cecil stony sandy loan is rather
difficult TO handle on account of it's
rough topography and stony nature, but
the least broken areas are farmed ex-
tensively to cotton and corn. The yields
range from light TO fairly good. Peach
es, apples, pears, and several other
fruits do well. but are grown at present
only for home use The toughest areas
should be used for pasture lands.
The Iredell clay loan Is very lim>
tied in extent and of no special agri-
cultural Importance. The small area
under cultivation produce light TO me-
dunn yields of cotton, corn and the few
other crops grown. The type could
be used to best advantage as pasture
lands
The term Meadow includes all OF the
alluvtal lands. These are mostly of
wet nature and subject TO frequent
overfiows. making crops very yncer-
tain II the smaller streams were kept
cleared OF distinctions their bottoms
would at least afford good pasturage.
Erosion does much damage on the
sleeper slopes OF all the types, and ter
racing should be practiced in all culti-
waited fields where the surface shows
the damaging effects OF wash"