MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 159 



The terrace areas are flat-topped or only gently inclined, while 

 those areas derived from the outcrop of older strata are rolling or 

 gently inclined. 



The soil consists of a medinm to coarse orange or ^^ellow sand, 

 having a depth of about 10 inches. It is underlain by a coarse sandy 

 subsoil wliich usually becomes loamy at a depth of about 3 feet. The 

 loose, open character of this soil prevents it from maintaining a large 

 water supply, and thus precludes the successful production of such 

 crops as require a long growing season. 



This soil is especially adapted to the production of early truck 

 crops, which can be forced to an early maturity and prepared for a 

 profitable market. This soil is largely utilized for trucking and mar- 

 ket gardening along the Atlantic seaboard. Early strawberries, mel- 

 ons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes can all be raised with profit, while 

 small crops of high-grade tobacco can also be produced. 



The soil requires careful treatment under highly specialized condi- 

 tions of farm practice. It requires the incorporation of large amounts 

 of organic matter in order to produce the best results. The plowing 

 under of leguminous crops and the addition of stable manure improve 

 the texture of the soil. 



THE WESTPHALIA SAND, 



The Westphalia sand occupies the gently sloping valley walls and 

 the low, rolling hilly areas of eastern Prince George's County. The 

 type is derived from the weathering of the surface outcrops of several 

 sandy geological formations. Small areas of Westphalia sand near 

 Buena Vista are derived from the loamy micaceous sands of the 

 Matawan, but the greater number of the areas are derived from the 

 clayey, somewhat glauconitic sands of the Nanjemoy formation. In 

 the southwestern part of the county the sandier upper portions of the 

 Calvert also give rise to Westphalia sand areas. These lie as low 

 hills along the slope to the Patuxent River, and the soil type here 

 attains its greatest agricultural value. 



The natural forest growth of this soil includes oak, sycamore, tulip, 

 and chestnut. Ko large forest areas exist, but scattered clumps of 

 trees abound. 



