THE PORTSMOUTH SANDY LOAM. 9 



Limited areas of the Portsmouth sandy loam are planted to rice 

 upon some plantations in South Carolina and Georgia. The crop 

 is produced without irrigation and for local consumption. Under 

 present conditions of rice production it is not probable that any ex- 

 tensive area of the Portsmouth sandy loam would repay the requisite 

 clearing, drainage, and embankment for the production of rice under 

 irrigation in the South Atlantic States. The initial cost of the 

 preparation of the land would be so high that the interest charge 

 upon the investment would constitute a high proportion of the cost 

 of production of the rice. Locally, however, areas of the type may 

 be so used to some advantage. 



Tr-uck crops. The Portsmouth sandy loam in Maryland and Dela- 

 ware is not infrequently planted to tomatoes, either for sale as a 

 truck crop or for sale to the canning factories. The yields are mod- 

 erate, amounting to from 5 to 8 tons per acre. These yields are easily 

 exceeded by many of the better-drained upland soils. 



Irish potatoes are produced to a limited extent and then only 

 to constitute a medium or late truck crop, or a crop for home use. 

 The yields are fair, ranging from 100 to 150 bushels per acre. 

 South of the Chesapeake Bay region very few potatoes are raised 

 upon this soil. Sweet potatoes are of secondary importance upon the 

 Portsmouth sandy loam in all locations. 



To a limited extent the Portsmouth sandy loam from Delaware to 

 South Carolina has been used for the growing of three truck crops, 

 which are eminently suited for production upon the type. These 

 are cabbage, kale, and spinach. Where adequate drainage is installed 

 to reduce the water level to a depth of 18 inches or greater, and 

 where transportation facilities are afforded for the easy marketing 

 of the crop, all three of these crops constitute excellent medium to 

 late truck crops. The cabbage or the kale may be grown as a late 

 summer crop for shipment to northern markets, and may be followed 

 by spinach, which can be marketed during the fall and practically all 

 winter. In order to complete the series of truck crops, it is also 

 possible to produce radishes and spring onions upon the same acre- 

 age, and a complete succession of trucking crops may thus be obtained. 

 For the production of cabbage and kale the application of lime at 

 the rate of 2,000 pounds of burned stone lime per acre is advisable. 

 The commercial fertilizers which derive their nitrogen from nitrate 

 of soda are also advisable in the production of these crops. Some 

 of the best growers also apply additional small amounts of nitrate 

 of soda during the growing season. The area of the Portsmouth 

 sandy loam planted to these crops might well be extended as the mar- 

 ket demands increase. However, only such areas as have been 

 adequately drained and are well located with reference to means of 

 transportation should be occupied for any of the truck crops. 



