The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-03-16
Survey Of Soils Found In
State Of Ohio
Details Of The Value To The
Farmers
And Conditions Favorable To
Particular Crops

Of Ohio covering an area Of over 40,-
900 square miles has been made by
the U. S. Department of Agriculture
in cooperation with the State Expert
ment Station, and a complete report
has just been issued giving many de-
tails of value to farmers in that State.
Not only are the soils in the different
counties described SO that their value
for particular crops may be known,
but other factors such as sunshine,
rain, and temperature are discussed
with reference to their bearing ON
agriculture.
The new report shows that while
climate, as a rule, has a greater influ-
ence upon plants than soil, in Ohio,
climatic conditions are fairly uniform,
while there are marked variations in
the character of the soil. These,
therefore, are more important in
deciding what crops may best be
grown in different parts Of the State.
The general climatic conditions of
Ohio are such that practically all
crops common to the temperate zone
may be grown there. However, the
weather varies sufficiently to produce
decided contrasts in yields.
Rainfall is the most important fac
tor of climate in determining crop
yields, because the proper amount of
moisture in the soil at critical periods
is necessary to the largest production.
While the temperature and sunshine
seldom vary from the normal suffi-
ciently to affect plant growth to any
great extent in this State, there may
be a decided deficiency or excess in
moisture. A few crops, however, par
ticularly potatoes and tobacco, are
influenced by summer temperatures,
and fruits and vegetables may be
greatly injured or destroyed by early
or late frosts or very cold winters.
The percentage of sugar in the sugar
beet also depends to large extent
upon the temperature and length of
the days during the growing season.
The soil is the foundation upon
which all lines of agricultural investi-
cations having to do with crop growth
must be built. The different types of
soil occurring in a particular section
are important therefore, and the OBJ
ject of the new bulletin is to describe
the characteristics and peculiarities
of the different types found in Ohio,
showing as far as possible their loca-
tion and distribution.
That soils differ in crop-producing
power is one of the most universally
recognized facts in agriculture. They
may be watered by the same rain,
warmed by the same sun, planted
with the same seed, cultivated with
the same care, and, in fact, treated
exactly alike in all respects, but still,
owing to inherent differences, the
yields secured upon one soil may be
two or three times as great as upon
another. The fact, however, that all
soils are not adapted to the same kind
or variety of crop, do not require the
same kind of fertilization or cultural
treatment, and are not suited to the
same system Of farming is not so
generally admitted or so well under
stood, although both experiments and
experience indicate that the latter
group of facts is just as true as the
former.
Details that should interest farmers
in Ohio are summed up as follows
in the report:
The altitude of the State varies
from about 500 to 1900 feet, consider
ably more than one-half of it's area
being less than 1000 feet above sea
level
The southeastern part of the State
is decidedly hilly, while other sections
consist very largely of gently rolling
plains, with some extensive stretches
of level land, particularly in the north.
western part. The bottoms are usual
ly narrow. and many streams have
very little alluvial land along their
courses.
Practically five-sevenths of the
State drains southword into the Ohio,
while the drainage of the remainder
is into Lake Erie. Many changes In
drainage resulted from the advance of
the Ice, and very few streams now
occupy preglacial channels. Many of
the changes swere probably intsrgla-
cial rather than preglacial.
The average annual temperature
for the extreme northern section of
the State is 48 degrees and for the
extreme southern section 55 degrees,
giving difference of only Z degrees.
Lake Erie has decided influence
upon the climate in the section imme-