The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-27
BY p. II. MCGOWAN.

Washington Sept. 22.-Henrico
ounty, Va. embraces a large variety
soils ranging from the most pro-
uctive bottoms of the eastern Unit
d States to good, strong, well drain
a uplands. and fiat uplands which
~ In need of drainage, according
D the report of the soil survey just
made of the county by the bureau OF
oils, United States department OF ag
iculture. There is sufficient range
d the soils to Justify the establish
nent OF a varied agriculture.
The survey was made for the pur-
ose of classifying the different types
< soils in county and to determine
b what crops they are best adapted
he report is accompanied by map
n colors showing the location and
xtent of the twenty seven soii types
ound. as well as the location of tns
hurches. school houses, roads and
treams in the county.
The agricultural methods pracilc
a up to within comparatively recen'
ears were not conducive TO the up
building of the soil, the tendency be-
mr. to remove everything from the
and. returning little in the form OF
Vegetable fertilizer. Lately. however
here has been a general Improvement
the condition of agriculture and as
hd cultivated crops which gather nj
togen and supply vegetable matte
re- included in the systematic rota-
ons and greater attention Is paid
o fertilzsng. lining and draining the
and.
Dairying In an important industry,
here being over one hundred diaries
the county. German clover is used
extensively for hay and soil Improve
nent, IL being generally seeded with
wheat and oats. Cowpeas, soy beans
nd vesch are grown TO a small eA-
emf, but always probably. The hay
rops include timothy. red top. oats
Italian rye grass, fescue aud chess.
Blue grass and red top are used Tor
PASTURE No general system Of fota
ON liz followed by the dairymen-
Deep Flowing Is Needed.
Some OF the soils of the county are
naturally we'll drained and productive
nd require only deep blowing and
borough cultivation for profitable
Fields: others are we'll drained, but
heed TO be fertilize,i or manureas lib
krafsy and supplied with sege4a big
natter To produce good crops. while
ktiil others are IN need Of artificial
Irainago. deep ptoWing. lining and
fertiiix.ng TO give profitable returns.
The most important soils in the
bounty, and their crop adaptation. as
outlined by the report, follow;
A considerable acreage of the Nor
folk sandy ieanf is devoted to truck
Ing. Such crops as Irish and swee.
potatoes. string and lima beans, peas,
md melons do well. Late cabbage.
saie and tarnips are also successfully
krown The growers depend largely
Upon manure hauled from Richmond
10 maintain the productiveness OF the
POLL. Small quantities Of high grade
Fertilizers also are used, where oat
kying is practiced. corn. wheat am
blower are the principal crops. The
last crop of clover is usually turned
Hinder. OF all the crops grown the
type Is apparently best adapted to
wheat and clover.
The typical Norfolk fine sandy loan,
Il q gray To pale yellow flne sandy
oam, underiain at about six to eight
nr ten inches by yellow. friablei
heavy fine sandy loan to fine sandy
pr silly clay loan. In handling this
Hoil II has been found best to pillow
Ia the fall to an average depth OF
about eight inches. to apply liberal
Quantities Of barnyard manure. and
10 pillow under an occasional crop
buch as cowpeas, clover or rye. Mod
crate applications of complete fer.
ktftzcr mixtures have generally been
found to increase yields.
1t is well suited to the produotion
| OF sweet potatoes. Irish potatoes
- bbage. snap beans lima beans. rad
tshes. cucumhers. canteioupes, water
melons, garden peas, turnips and a
humber OF other vegetables. For these
crops heavier applications OF fertil-
bxer are used than in the case OF corn
and oats. Cowpeas. crimson clover,
.vetch and soy beans are legumes
(which thrive on the land and which
Improve the soil whether plowed un-
her or cut for hay. Corn, wheat and
bats are. grown on the type to some
extent and good yields are obtained
where the proper methods have been
followed
Effective HANDLING Methods.
The Norfolk silt loan, a gray sill
|Ioarn, usually passes at a depth Of
lone 10 two inches into a yellow o,
bale yellow silt loan. The most eff
|ffrient handling includes the follow
Iing methods. Artificial drainage by
|ditching or thing. fall plowina to d
depth of at least six or eight inches
OF at least one ton oi
burnt lime or two tons of finely ground
limestone Ger acre. and the liberal
addition OF vegetable matter In tbs
horn Of barnyard manure or crops OF
Icowpeas. clover. vetch, or rye p1ow-
led under In the green state just before
maturity. Such treatment tends tc
prevent the soil from baking and In
|sires the freest possible circulation Of
|xOiI moisture. which IL necessary tc
The best development OF plants,
Where the type ii properly handled
tho Yields Of wheat, clover and grass
|afe good. and corn gives fair yields
hut the type cannot be considered 4
|soil suitable for general truck grow
ling, although good yields of Irish
potatoes can be obtained The best
use Of this type is for growing prin-
|cipally grass and forage crops. Dali
|rying IL the most profitable branch
|Of agriculture at present practiced on
III.
The Orangeburg gravelly candy
loan is a reddish-brown to gray light
|santlv loam. underlain at variable
depths by dull red friable sandy
|clay which grades below into q deep
|er red. heavier clay. The more gen.
lille slopes are cultivated. and fair
Frf0rs &c wheat eats, Germ and hay
lara produced. Where the land Is cul.
|fiyated 1t IL best used for intertilled
c-prs, AZ there IL difficulty In operat-
irw reapers and mowers, and other
labor saving machinery. owing to tbs
|ukAAp slopes The natural forest
r0ysfik consists Of oak. pine. sWeet
and maple
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