182 THE SOILS OF PRINCE GEOEGe's COUIvTY 



soil is sought out as best adapted to the production of watermelons, 

 canteloupes, sweet potatoes, early Irish potatoes, strawberries, early 

 tomatoes, early peas, peppers, eggplant, rhubarb, and even for cab- 

 bage and cauliflower, though the latter crops produce better yields on 

 a heavier soil. The Norfolk sand in Prince George's County is well 

 situated with regard to the markets of Baltimore, Washington, Pitts- 

 burg, and Philadelphia. Its climatic surroundings are favorable and 

 the prices of land low. It should serve as the basis for a strong 

 development of the truck industry in that county. 



In texture the Westphalia sand is considerably finer grained than 

 the Norfolk sand. On the other hand, it is not so distinctly loamy as 

 the Sassafras sandy loam. It furnishes a type not so well adapted to 

 the production of the early truck crops as to the raising of Irish pota- 

 toes, peaches, small fruits, and tomatoes. It is too sandy and porous 

 to produce good yields of grain or grass, even when Avell fertilized. 

 The more level, sheltered portions of this type in Prince George's 

 County produce a fair yield of tobacco, while the steeper slopes are 

 almost barren of any crop. The Westphalia sand is deficient in 

 organic matter, and its texture and fertility can be considerably im- 

 proved by the use of green and stable manure. 



The Windsor sand is the loosest, most incoherent soil of the area. 

 It does not retain sufficient moisture to mature the grain crops to 

 advantage, but is well adapted to small fruits, such as raspberries and 

 currants. Peach orchards located on this type are noted for their 

 long life and for the size and beauty of the fruit produced. 



The Susquehanna gravel exists only in narrow bands and small 

 isolated areas. It is totally unfitted for most agricultural purposes 

 and should remain in forest wherever possible. Grapes are raised on 

 soils of similar texture in other regions, and the possibility of their 

 culture on Susquehanna gravel should be experimentally determined. 



The Norfolk loam has long occupied a commanding position in the 

 production of the Maryland type of smoking tobacco. The hilltops 

 throughout the "Forest of Prince George" are capped by this soil 

 type, and the yield of tobacco and the prices commanded have been 

 uniformly good in this region. In other areas of the type the same 

 conditions hold. This type is commonly fertilized by the use of the 



