VEGETATION OF LANDS SUITED TO TRUCK FARMING. 477 



small cane, indicates a soil thai is naturally not well drained, as is very 

 generally the case in the region. 



2. Along the Southern branch of Elizabeth River, near Berkley : For- 

 est of small short-leaf pines (20 to 30 feet high), mixed with sweet 

 gum, water oak, Spanish oak (Quercus digitata), sourwood, etc. 

 Undergrowth moderately dense, of sumac (Rhus copallina), sweet 

 gum, and gallberry (Bex glabra). Nearer the water where the soil is 

 still lighter and sandier, myrtle (Myrica carolinensis), becomes impor- 

 tant in the undergrowth, while sumac disappears. 



3. Lamberts Point, near Norfolk: Timber chiefly large short-leaf 

 pine (sometimes 80 feet high and 4 feet through), mixed with some 

 sweet gum (also of large dimensions), and small trees or bushes of 

 various oaks (willow, white, water, and quercitron (Quercus velu- 

 ttna), holly (Hex opacu), sourgum (Xyssasylvafira), pepper bush (Cle- 

 thra), bay (Persea puhescens), ete. Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), 

 and muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) are abundant. 



4. Suffolk: Forest of small short-leaf pines, averaging 4-0 feet in 

 height. Undergrowth especially heavy near the border of the forest, 

 composed of sourwood (very abundant), sweet gum, myrtle (Myrica 

 carolinensis), holly, gallberry, tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), 

 Spanisli oak, white oak, water oak, huckleberry (Gaylussacia fron- 

 dosa), and blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum teneUum). 



5. Edenton: Rather heavy growth of large short-leaf pine (P. taeda), 

 some of the trees being 80 feet high and -1 feet in diameter. Other 

 trees are tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweet gum, sourwood (Oxy- 

 dendrum), white oak, black eherry (Prunus serotina), and red cedar 

 (Juniperus virginiana), all small. The undergrowth is made up of 

 dwarfed plants of the trees mentioned, together with myrtle, spike- 

 nard tree (Aralia spinosa), holly, sassafras, CaUicarpa americana, 

 and various climbing plants, trumpet creeper (Tecorna rad leans), 

 yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), muscadine grape {Vitis 

 rotundifolia), and greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia). This soil, as the 

 growth indicates, has rather more body than is necessary or even 

 advantageous for growing most truck crops. The neighboring fields 

 were planted in cotton which was in excellent condition and indicated 

 a soil well adapted to that staple. 



6. Edenton, near the preceding tract: Pines small and giving place 

 to hardwoods, chiefly tulip 1 fee and Spanish oak, with a scattered 

 undergrowth of persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sumac, sourwood, 

 sweet gum, spikenard tree, yellow jessamine, etc. Here the soil was 

 lighter and sandier than in Xo. 5, and therefore better adapted to 

 truck. 



The problem of ascertaining just what plants are useful as indica- 

 tors of a good truck soil is not a simple one. As we have already 

 remarked, it is the water content of the soil, depending very largely 

 upon its fineness of texture, that chiefly determines the distribution 



