AUUICIU/LTRAL ADVANTAGES. 



857 



far as experience goes, the swamp soils are capable of producing as 

 large yields of corn as are the prairie soils of the Mississippi Valley, 

 and the climatic conditions as a whole are more favorable than is 

 the case in the latter territory. Owing to its close proximity to the 

 ocean the Dismal Swamp has a longer growing season. Then again 

 the normal monthly rainfall for the summer months is about 30 p?r 

 cent greater than in the Mississippi Valley. The following table 

 shows the normal monthly precipitation in inches for the two region 



compared: 



CompariHou of precipitatiojis. 



Place. 



Norfolk, Va.. 



Peoria, 111 



Keokuk, Iowa 



Xuilllirv 



Apr. 



Mn \ . 



June. 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. I 



26 



4.3 







5.8 



6. 3 





4.2 



4.4 



4.7 



41 



3.2 



3.8 



3.7 



4.0 



3.0 



3.5 



24 



3. a 



4.1 



4.5 



4.1 



2.8 



3.5 



29. 7 

 21.2 

 22.2 



The month of August in the Mississippi Valley is most frequently 

 the dry month that cuts short the crop. From the table it will be 

 seen that on an average Norfolk, which is but a few miles north of 

 the swamp, has more than twice as much rain in August as have the 

 places in the Mississippi Valley. Furthermore, the water table is so 

 near the ground surface and the subsoil is so light in texture that 

 with good methods of cultivation drought is almost unknown in the 

 Swamp region. This insures a good crop every year, w T hile in the 

 Mississippi Valley there is a shortage in the corn crop on an average 

 once in every three years, due to insufficient moisture in the soil. 

 This gives a great advantage to the swamp lands. 



Again, the Dismal Swamp is at the very door of a magnificent sea- 

 port where produce can be loaded on ships for transportation to 

 almost any point in the world. Since the transportation canal runs 

 through the swamp produce could be taken almost immediately from 

 field to boat and transported in this way to any of our Eastern cities, 

 Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, or Boston. The expense of 

 transportation would be considerably less than by rail from the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley to any of these cities. 



Upon careful study it will be found that the location, climate, and 

 soil of the swamp arc such as to give it many advantages, even for 

 the production of a great, staple like Indian corn. The soil, being 

 sandier than that of the prairies, is more easily cultivated. On the 

 other hand, when we consider the superior facilities for transporta- 

 tion, it is clear that there is much to be said in favor of more intensive 

 farming on land reclaimed from the Dismal Swamp. Potatoes, cab- 

 bage, and celery are crops that do well on such land; and, with proper 

 management, they could undoubtedly be made profitable here. 



