The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-10-01
BAMBERG SOIL SURVEYED
FEDERAL EXPERTS MAKE RE-
PORT OF FINDINGS.
Fields Average Less Tran Third of
Possible Yield-ToO Little D-
verSificatiOn.

county are yet TO De reallZed; lnat
the soils on the average are not pro-
ducing more than one-third Of what
they should; that they are being used
in many instances for crops for which
they are not adapted; that every
year the farmers realize the impor-
tance of diversified farming, are,
tersely, the findings Of soil survey
Of the county recently made by the
bureau Ct soils, United States de-
partmept of agriculture,
The survey was made for the pur-
pose of classifying the different
types of soil in the county and to de-
termine to what crops they are best
adapted. The report is accompanied
by map in colors, showing the To-
cation of the types of soil encounter
ed by the surveying party, as well as
the location of churches, school
houses, roads and streams in the
county.
Condemn One-Crop Plan.
The farmers do not generally real
ize that the existing system Of grow
ing cotton as the only money crop
and buying large part of the neces-
sites for home use can not lead to
any substantial prosperity. Many Of
the soils are more admirably adapted
for other crops. Greater thorough
ness in the preparation of soils for
crops as well as in subsequent culti-
vation is needed
While frequent \cultivation is
necessary in order to keep down
grasses and weeds, an equal lmpor-
tant function Of cultivation is to con-
serve the moisture in the soil for the
use of the plants. The farmers too
often plant their crops on poorly1pre-
pared land and afterwards try to get
the soils in good condition while cul-
tivating the crop, generally by deep
plowing.
The rotation of crops has been CIV
en- little or no attention by the ma
jority of farmers of the county and
it's importance as means of in
creasing the resources of the farm
or of keeping the soil in a product
i've state is not understood: For ex-
ample, cotton may be grown upon
the same land for a long term OF
years or it may be alternated with
corn and oats in regular way. One
of the great factors in maintaining
the soil in a productive state is to
keep it well supplied with humus.
The present one-crop system in the
county is largely responsible for the
very low humus content found in the
soils and their correspondingly low
state of productiveness.
A good rotation is cotton one or
two years, corn one year, and oats
and cowpeas the third year, followed
by cotton again or such other crop
as the conditions demand. Cowpeas
are best planted in the corn middles.
In the late fall rye, veteh, burr clover
or some other suitable winter cover
crop should be planted.
Types Of Soils.
The most important Of the 19
types of soil found in the county dur
ing the survey are the Norfolk sand,
Norfolk fine sand, Norfolk sandy
loan, Norfolk fine sandy loan and
the Orangeburg sandy loan.
About 60 per cent. of the Norfolk
sand is cleared and under cultiva-
ton, being used principally for cot
ton and for corn, which gives light
and uncertain yields. Some Of the
minor crops grown are oats, cow
peas. sorghum and sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes do well. The present
system of farming with the prevail
ing low yields is not profitable but
by careful management, including
the proper rotation of crops and lib
eral use of manure and commercial
fertilizers, the type can be made to
produce one-half to one bale Of cot
ton and 25 to SO bushels of corn per
acre. The best results are obtained
from the use of commercial fertiliz-
ers when only part Of the amount to
be used is applied at the time Of
planting and the remainder as the
crop is growing. Soluble nitrogenous
fertilizer, such as nitrate of soda, is
best applied as top dressing.
About half of the Norfolk fine sand
is under cultivation, being used prin-
cipally for the production Of cotton
and corn. The average yields are
light and improbable. The yield of
oot+on rara1v eyceeds one-half bale