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42 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1916.
ingly it is darker than, or not as red in color as, the sandy loam type.
It is derived mainly from thin-bedded, glauconitic sandy limestones.
The Pontotoc stony loam occurs in the southern part of the county
in association with the sandy loam. The land is rolling or moderately
hilly, but only a small part is very rough or broken. Only a few
spots of the deeper soil, an acre or two in extent, have been placed
under cultivation, and on the whole the soil is considered as having
a low value for farming, mainly on account of the thinness of the
soil layer. The land is rather thickly covered with brushy live oak,
with some of the more open areas characterized by large trees. There
is considerable chaparral, Mexican persimmon, algerita, and wild
privet. Bear grass (yucca) is a common growth on the more barren
areas. Both prickly pear and some species of bush cactus are present,
but are not abundant. There is a fair growth of grasses, which, with
the oaks, affords considerable forage for cattle. The grazing value of
this land probably is a little lower than that of the San Saba and
Crawford stony types.
PONTOTOC CLAY LOAM.
The Pontotoc clay loam consists of a dark reddish brown to nearly
black, moderately friable clay loam which grades at 8 to 10 inches
into reddish-brown to brown, rather stiff clay. The soil prevailingly
is darker than the Pontotoc sandy loam, but nearly everywhere has
a reddish cast, and the soil material is derived from the same sandy
glauconitic formations.
The type occurs in small areas associated with the sandy loam and
stony loam types, the largest individual areas being mapped near
Cherokee. Several areas were mapped along West Deep Creek.
Small areas in the southwestern part of the county in Deer Creek
Valley are included with the Pontotoc and Harley sandy loams.
This soil occurs at the base of gentle slopes of small valleys and in
shallow drainage depressions at the head of some of the streams.
Owing to its topographic position, it includes some colluvial material.
The slope is very gentle, and the run-off is less rapid than on
the sandy loam.
The greater part of the land is under cultivation, and where
properly handled is probably a little more productive and durable
than the sandy loam soils of this part of the county. Corn and oats
are the principal crops. Oats give better results than on the sandy
soils. Sorghum and milo give fair yields.
The clay loam is locally referred to as " tight" land. It does not
"shed," or scour, very readily in plowing.