THE UTILIZATION OF THE SOIL SURVEY.BY

M. F. Miller, Professor of Soils,College of Agriculture, University of Missouri.

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be outlined the great soil provinces, the principal croppingbelts, the important agricultural regions, and those limitedareas adapted to special crops. It gives information on thefertility and cropping possibilities of each soil type. Itclassified the agricultural and non-agricultural lands of thecountry, shows the areas best retained for timber production,outlines the swamp lands capable of reclamation, the dry landssuitable for dry land farming, and those arid soils which maybe profitably irrigated. Through the information which it issupplying, the future agricultural possibilities of thecountry may be determined.

Outside the sphere of agriculture proper, the soilsurvey has a value in determining the location of certainmaterials of economic use. It' assists the geological surveyin locating sources of agricultural limestone, road materials,and clay products. To a certain extent, deposits of fertili-zing materials are indicated. It gives information of valueto engineers in locating roads, and the maps are very common-ly used by road engineers.

Another important use of the soil survey as a meansof supplying information on soil resources is that of pro-viding a foundation for various lines of investigation. Con-sistent investigations of the soil needs of a state or regionmust be based upon a soil map. The development of soil ex-periment fields throughout a state has little value exceptin its relation to soil types. Studies in methods of soilmanagement can be of greatest value only when based on the soiltypes as outlined by the soil survey. In addition, the soilmap is of value as a basis for other lines of investigation.Investigations in farm management, in the study of land tenure,of land values, and even studies in rural sociology may usethe map as a basis on which to work. When these maps have"become better known, much greater use will be made of them forsuch purposes.

The second general function of the soil survey has todo with the matter of supplying information regarding soilutilisation. While its first function is to supply informaticsregarding the character of soils, the second is to indicate howthere soils may be used. The accurate maps which are now beingprepared distinguish sharply between soils of different utilityvalues, and it 'should be the function of the reports to pointout certain definite methods of soil utilization. Systems ofcropping, of fertilization, and systems of soil management ingeneral, are now forecast in the survey reports. It is realiz-ed, however, that the standard federal report is necessarilylimited in what may be attempted in this respect,"since thefederal Bureau must map soils from the national viewpoint. Itis, therefore, impracticable to include much detailed informa-tion regarding soil utilization, since such information islargely in the hands of men whose efforts are confined to theindividual states. Furthermore, accurate recommendations re-garding soil utilization must be based, at least in part, onfield experiments and laboratory determinations. These re-

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commendations must also be supported by a familiarity withlocal conditions which only state men possess. Consequently,in order to make the survey reports of the greatest practicaluse to the individual farmer, either the information whichstate workers are collecting must be incorporated in thefederal report, or the various states must prepare specialfollow-up reports of individual counties, giving definite anddetailed information regarding soil management and utilization.There is little doubt that where the states have sufficientfunds for publication and where the work of the soil surveyis being followed with field experiments and with analyses ofindividual soil types, this special utilitarian report follow-ing the general federal report on the soil resources of acounty is most desirable. In this case the regular map way bepurchased from the federal engraver in quantities sufficientto provide for this special publication, or as is being donein Iowa, special editions of the map may be prepared.

There seems no reasny why such/ soil maps, accurateas they now are and accompanied by reports containing verydefinite recommendations on soil management, should not be ofgreat immediate value to the farmer. Naturally their utili-tarian value will depend quite largely on the soil managementinvestigations of the individual states, and such investigationsrequire time and funds. The time should not be far distantin many states, however, when information on specific croppingsystems for the various soil types, on drainage, on methods offertilization, on liming, and on definite plans- of maintainingfertility for each of the important, types of a county may forma very important part of these reports. The federal reports,as now issued, are quite satisfactory in showing the soil re-sources of a county, but the future should̂ see the incorpora-tion of much information on the utilization of individualsoil types.

There is a third general consideration which shouldbe included in this report, namely the matter of securing awider use of the survey maps and reports. At present therealty men, land appraisers, and bankers are probably makingthe greatest use of them. They were the first to recognizetheir value, and many such men in the various states have com-plete state -files of these county reports. While many farmersare making use of them, the number is far too small. This isdoubtless partly due to the fact that they have not been suf-ficiently informed regarding this matter, or they have not knownwhere the reports could be secured. Moreover, many farmershave difficulty in interpreting the map when it is in theirhands. Notwithstanding these facts, there is an increasingnumber of the more progressive farmers who are using them, andsuch men are beginning to refer to their soils by t*,e typenames. Likewise, these maps are proving of great value tocertain of the county agents. 'Where-a good county soil map isavailable, the agent finds h,is work is greatly facilitated,provided he is able to make proper use of it. likewise, schoolsare beginning to use them, especially those high schools givingcourses in vocational agriculture, while agricultural colleges

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and other educational institutions where agriculture is taughtare finding these maps of much value. In spite of this in-creasing interest, however, the use of these maps is stillvery limited as compared to what it should be. One of the im-portant problems in connection with:the work of the soil surveyis to bring about a wider use of the material which is ac-cumulating. It should be one of the important functions ofthis organization of soil survey workers to popularize thework of the soil survey, and to make tee accumulated data ofvalue to the people. In this connection the committee wishesto offer certain suggestions.

First, there is a great need of disseminating in-formation regarding the value of the soil survey among thepeople of the country, and particularly among the people ofthe counties which have been mapped. Various means are avail-able for doing this. The extension divisions of the collegescan do much. The county agents, the soils extension specialistsand the news service of the colleges can be utilized for thispurpose. The teachers of vocational agriculture can be ofassistance, and the agricultural press,'.is always ready to carryshort, or even extended articles dealing with the soil survey,provided these are well written. Even the common schoolsmay be utilized to a certain extent where the county superin-tendent is interested. It would seem to be the duty of thesoils men in the various institutions to see that these agenciesare effectively used for the purpose of popularizing this work,

Second, there is a need for educating the people inthe methods x>f using soil survey maps. This applies not onlyto •••'farmers, but in many cases to county agents, to teachers ofvocational agriculture, and even in some instances to soilsextension specialists. It is, of course, realized that greatdifficulty will be experienced in reaching effectively anygreat number of people, but much can be done. The introduc-tory course in soils in our colleges should have at least onepracticum designed to teach students the use of soil surveymaps and reports. Men training particularly for county agentwork, or for the work of teachers of vocational agriculture,should be given special training along this line. Soils ex-tension specialists should be required to familiarize them-selves thoroughly with the important soil types of the stateand the methods employed in soil mapping. County agents al-ready in the field might be called together by a soils ex-tension specialist in group meetings and given information onthe"methods of using these maps. Where county soil maps areavailable the county agent should be asked to speak to farmersin terms of soil types. Finally, the plan being followed inIowa, of holding special farmers: meetings in counties wheremaps are available to explain to them the uses of the soilsurvey ,should be extended to other states. It would be highlydesirable* if at least one soils extension man capable of hold-ing such meetings should be connected with the extension serviceof each state*

Third, there should be a more -satisfactory means of

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distributing soil survey reports than that now existing. Justwhat this association can do to influence the federal plan ofdistribution is not entirely clear, but it is believed thatsomething could be accomplished to improve conditions. Thepresent plan of issuing 500 copies of each county report toeach senator of the state concerned, 1000 to the representativeof the district in which the county is located, with only 1000to the Division of Publications, and practically none to theco-operating state> does not appear to be the most satisfactoryplan. Of course, where states are publishing their own countyreports, this matter is largely taken care of, but this appliesto comparatively few states at this time. It would seemthat some definite action by this association, representingas it does a large number of interested states, might bringresults. After the association has decided upon some plan-of distribution which it can approve and which seems to offersome chance of receiving favorable congressional action, itdoubtless would be best to put the matter in the hands of someinterested congressman to secure the proper legislation.

This committee hopes that some of the matters sug-gested may be considered by the association, and that a moresatisfactory utilization of the data now being accumulated bythe soil survey may be brought about.

Committee on Utilization,

M. F. Miller, Chairman

A. T. Wiancko

H. H. Krusekopf