14 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



place extra-early melons upon the market and to follow these by 

 the later field-planted crop. The Norfolk fine sand is also well 

 suited to the production of watermelons, and this crop is raised to 

 some extent, particularly in the Texas regions where the soil type is 

 developed. As in the case of cantaloupes, the watermelons produced 

 upon the Norfolk sand mature somewhat earlier than those upon the 

 Norfolk fine sand. For this reason in the more northern areas the 

 sand is usually chosen for the production of both classes of melons. 



Lettuce and cabbage are of secondary importance as crops for the 

 Norfolk fine sand. The moisture-holding capacity of the type is 

 hardly sufficient for the production of these crops under normal cir- 

 cumstances, and the organic-matter content is also rather low. 



It will be seen from the above consideration that there are nine im- 

 portant and valuable special truck crops which may be produced 

 for the early market upon the Norfolk fine sand wherever it occurs 

 in sufficient proximity to lines of rapid transit, so that the crops 

 produced may be transported in quick time from the field to the mar- 

 ket sought. In the more northern trucking regions the early Irish 

 potatoes, early sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes have thus 

 far been the more important crops produced upon the Norfolk fine 

 sand. Farther south asparagus, peas, beans, cantaloupes, and water- 

 melons have been grown in addition to these crops, while in some 

 areas attempts have been made with moderate success to produce 

 lettuce and cabbage upon the type. 



In the north Florida region the shade-grown Sumatra tobacco is 

 sometimes produced upon the Norfolk fine sand, but the best success 

 with this crop is only attained upon this soil type when irrigation can 

 be practiced. 



SUMMARY. 



The Norfolk fine sand occurs throughout the Atlantic and Gulf 

 Coastal Plain regions from Virginia to eastern Texas. In general it 

 lies at low or intermediate elevations above sea level, not exceeding 

 350 feet, and its surface is undulating, rolling, or hilly. 



The surface soil is usually a gray fine sand, the subsoil a fine sand 

 of some shade of yellow. 



It is loose, porous, well drained, and warm. 



Because of its physical texture, its elevation above drainage chan- 

 nels, and the lack of any heavier underlying material at a depth of 

 less than 3 feet, it is liable to be excessively drained and not suffi- 

 ciently retentive of soil moisture to be able to produce the best results 

 with general farm crops. 



The same characteristics, however, render it warm and early, and 

 constitute the Norfolk fine sand an admirable soil for the production 

 of early truck crops wherever transportation to northern markets 



