Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-07
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
MAKES SURVEY OF SOIL
Report Is Submitted on Condi-
ton of Land in Ben Hill
County
fsneclal Dispatch 10 The Journal.l

Especial Dispatch to The JournaL)
STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICUL-
TURE,f ATHENS. Ga, May 4.-The
work of the soil survey of Ben Hill
since January, is completed. The man
uscript of the report and the map has
been turned in for publication by the
men in the charge Of this work. Ben
Hill was the first county selected for
soil survey work under the newly ar
ranged cooperation of the Georgia
State College of Agriculture and the
Bureau of Soils of the United States
Department of Agriculture. In order
to make the careful study of the soils
Of this county and map the same, 1t
required the work Of two men for q
period of four months.
The result of the survey will be pub
lished in pamphlet form in addition to
a complete map Of the county show
ing the location of the various soils
by representing them In different col
ors, so as to enable the people inter
ested in this county to ascertain the
quality Of the soil. The report will
cover a full description OF the fifteen
types of soil found in the county and
also describe the present condition Of
agriculture which occurs on these
SOILS, together with suggestions for the
Improvement of the agriculture.
REPORT is FREE.
The map and report will be sent free
to those parties requesting the same
from the Bureau of Soils, Washing
ton. d. c., or the State College of Ag-
riculture, at Athens, Ga. These re-
ports, however, will not be, available
for year or eighteen months, as this
amount Of time is required for the
preparation of the same.
The soils of Ben Hill county, being
fourteen types in all, represent some
of the best and some of the poorest
land in South Georgia. BY the aid Of
the map these areas of good land and
less favorable land can be located in
areas ranging as low as five acres.
Several soils are not being utilized to-
day through poor drainage. Such areas
are also shown and described.
Numerous samples or each type Of
soil were taken by the representative
of the Georgia State College of Agri-
culture and sent to the laboratory Of
that institution for a chemical analy-
sis. The object of the analysis Of
these soils is to show in what elements
these soils may be deficient and to
show the farmers how to supply these
deficiencies in the most economical
manner in order to maintain and in
crease the fertility of the soil types
In this manner the State College of
Agriculture will attempt to reach the
Georgia farmers who today spend mill
lions of dollars for fertilizers, and as
sist them in ascertaining the fertilizer
requirements for these various soils
throughout the state. When the anal
Uses OF the soils are completed the
State College of Agriculture VIII pub
lish the results for the benefit of the
farmers who operate farms on these
soils. --4..,
Similar work as that which has been
carried out in Ben Hill county will be
continued in this state until the en-
tire state is completed. The soil sur
vey is the fundamental work for the
further improvement of the agriculture
Of this state, as it will form a work
ing basis for the more economical ex-
penditure of the money annually spent
for fertilizers in utilizing soils for the
crops to which they are best adapted.
and in utilizing soils which are now
considered useless.