“Now, I do not wish to take up more of your time,” said Percy, “for I know how busy a man you must be, but I am thinking of buying a farm, or some land, here in the East and have come to you for information.  We have a small farm in Illinois and land is rather too high-priced there to think of buying more; but I thought I could sell at a good price, and buy a much larger farm here in the East with part of the money and still have enough left to build it up with; and, with the high price of all kinds of farm produce here, we ought to make it pay.”

“You can do it,” said the Secretary.  “No doubt of it.  Any land that ever was any good is all right yet if you’ll grow clover, and you can start that with a little manure if you need it.  I have done it in Iowa, and I know what I am talking about.

“Now my Bureau of Soils can give you just the information you want.  We are making a soil survey of the United States, and we have soil maps of several counties right here in Maryland.  You can take that map and pick out any kind of land you want,—­upland or bottom land,—­sandy soil, clay soil, loam, silt loam, or anything you want.”

CHAPTER XXI

IN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

“Show this gentleman to the Bureau of Soils,” said the Secretary to the boy who came as he pushed a button.

“All the world loves an optimist,” said Percy to himself as he followed the boy to another office where he met the Chief of the Bureau of Soils, who kindly furnished him with copies of the soil maps of several counties, including two in Maryland, Prince George, which adjoins the District of Columbia, and St. Mary county, which almost adjoins Prince George on the South.

These maps were accompanied by extensive reports describing in some detail the agricultural history of the counties and the general observations that had been made by the soil surveyors.

“I desire to learn as much as I can regarding the most common upland soils,” Percy explained.  “Not the rough or broken land, but the level or undulating lands which are best suited for cultivation.  I am sure these maps and reports will be a very great help to me.”

“I think you will find just what you are looking for,” said the Chief.  “You can spread the maps out on the table there and let me know if I can be of any assistance.  You see the legend on the margin gives you the name of every soil type, and the soils are fully described in the reports.  One of the most common uplands soils in southern Prince George county is the Leonardtown loam, and this type is also the most extensive soil type in St. Mary county.

“The same type is found in Virginia to some extent.  While the soil has been run down by improper methods of culture, it has a very good mechanical composition and is really an excellent soil; but it needs crop rotation and more thorough cultivation to bring it back into a high state of fertility.  The farmers are slow to take up advanced methods here in the East.  We have told them what they ought to do, but they keep right on in the same old rut.”