8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



Both timothy and red clover are commonly seeded with one or the 

 other of the small grain crops in regular rotation in order to furnish 

 hay. In general, clover makes a good stand, especially if the land 

 has been limed, and timothy is equally satisfactory. The mixed hay 

 will yield from 1^ to 2 tons per acre, and where the soil is in par- 

 ticularly good condition this yield, even, may be exceeded. 



These principal farm crops are usually grown upon the Sassafras 

 silt loam in regular succession. There is some diversity in the order 

 of the crop rotations, but in general the sod land is fall plowed and 

 fitted in the succeeding spring for the production of corn. In this 

 fitting the application of stable manure, either upon the sod before 

 plowing or upon the plowed land before the planting of the corn is 

 the usual practice. In the latter case the manure is thoroughly har- 

 rowed into the surface soil. Commercial fertilizers are also used in 

 connection with the stable manure and a complete fertilizer, carrying 

 3 or 4 per cent of nitrogen, usually about 4 per cent of potash and 10 

 to 12 per cent of phosphoric acid is quite commonly selected. The 

 amount of the application varies considerably in different localities, 

 ranging from 250 pounds an acre to as much as 500 pounds an acre 

 in the more intensively farmed districts. Frequent cultivation of the 

 corn during the growing season is the rule where the largest crops 

 are secured. Corn is usually followed by wheat either for one or 

 two crops. The second crop of wheat is not infrequently replaced 

 by oats. In either case the land is seeded to timothy and clover 

 with the second crop of grain and remains in grass for two years 

 or more. 



Special crops. In the Chesapeake Bay region where the Sassafras 

 silt loam is extensively developed upon both sides of the bay a con- 

 siderable canning industry has been developed. This type of soil has 

 contributed largely to the maintenance of the industry, through the 

 extensive production of sweet corn and of tomatoes. The canning 

 corn is picked in the husk and sold, usually by the ton, to the local 

 factories. The yield varies from 2^ to 3| tons per acre under normal 

 conditions. Prices, of course, vary, but the crop usually brings in a 

 cash return of $25 to $35. The blades and stalks remain as rough 

 forage to be fed upon the farm and constitute a valuable by-product 

 to those farmers who feed live stock or dairy cows. 



Tomatoes are produced extensively on the Maryland-Delaware 

 Peninsula and around the head of Chesapeake Bay in general. The 

 soil is usually prepared for tomato growing by the application of 

 such stable manure as is available and by the application of a com- 

 plete commercial fertilizer. The plants are set to be cultivated in 

 both directions and are not supported in the field. Yields vary mate- 

 rially. Where the ground has not been occupied previously for the 

 production of this crop the Sassafras silt loam has been known to 



