The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1922-08-11
TYPES OF SOILS AND CROPS
',QF MONBOE COUNTY, MISS.
Commissioner of Agriculture, II. A.
Carpenter, Gives Full Summary
of Farm Conditions Here.

Monroe County has more fertile,
black lime lands, and good loan soils
than any other county in the South,
and cannot be surpassed for raising
all kind of livestock. A ride through
the county will convince the most
skeptical that all kinds Of clovers
and grasses grow to perfection mere
.All along the roadside and on uncul-
tivated lands, these clovers ana
grasses are growing; and not any OF
them were planted there except by
nature alone.
!. The Black Lands are derived from
the Selma chalk formation, or Rotten
Limestone, as it is sometimes called
This limestone is a blueish white
color, and is decayed and rotten; be-
ing easily crumbled.
The lime soils have maximum
amounts of PHOSPHORUS and potas-
|-sfum in them, necessary to grow
crops indefinitely. Any soil that
has as much PHOSPHORUS, potassium
and lime as these soils, and as well
krained as they are, cannot be sur
PASSED in the United States, for pas
tures. The climate and the rainfall
$ as near ideal as can be found any
where.
The loan lands lie in the eastern
bart of the county, and are well suit
I'd to growing grains, red clover,
crimson and many other clovers,
ruck crops of all kinds, fruits and
erries, as we'll as cotton. Splendid
astures are to be had, with Bermuda
rass, carpet grass, paspalum, white
lover, lsspedeza,f and many other
blants.
There is an abundance of good
pure water. Deep wells and over
flowing wells are plentiful in Mon
roe County.
Owing to our high elevation, and
gentle, rolling nature of our lands,
TIE climate of this country is de-
Alyhtful the year around, as we do
~ have the excessive heat or cold
lat other parts Of the county have
unstroke is unknown here.
CORN
Corn is, Of course, the most i'm
1 portant grain crop grown in the
county, and on our rich Lime lands
and loan soils, it yields crops equal
to the corn belt. This section of the
country is blessed with having such
a long growing season for corn; it is
planted from March 1st to July 10th,
which enables a farmer to grow a
crop of oats or clover, and then plant
corn.
Corn planted after a crop OF
crimson clover, or bur clover, pro-
duces record yields, and in this way
he land is utilized the year round,
i the clovers furnish winter and
Spring grazing, crop OF seed, and
then fertilizes the land for the corn
crop. After the clover has been
turned under, the land is planted to
SOW beans and corn, or field peas and
corn; and two more crops are pro-
duced on this land.
One great advantage here Is that
some crop such as soy beans, peas
velvet beans, or peanuts can be
grown with the corn, and a good
crop of both produced. Experiments
have shown that the yield of corn is
decreased practically none by grow
ing one of the above crops with the
. corn. and the yield of feed, per acre,
: is almost doubled, and the fertility
of the land is increased.
OATS
The oat crop is an important feed
crop here, because it can be planted
in September, October, and Novem-
ber, and harvested in June. This fur
nishes a cover and grazing crop for
the winter and spring months, and a
place to sow red clover, Japan clov-
er, or lespedeza, and mellilotus, or
sweet clover; all of which furnish an
excellent hay crop.
Yields of from forty to sixty
bushels per acre are not at all un-
lusual on both the lime and loan
soils.
WHEAT, RYE, AND BARLEY.
Wheat grows well here on the stiff
soils, and the yields compare favor
ably with those in the grain belt
\ Rye and barley are grown Tor
over crops and for winter pastures'
Id these two crops will furnish a
Wonderful amount of grazing
through the winter and early spring.
Sometimes rape is sown with these
\ two crops, and the combination has
made excellent pastures.
COTTON