THE NORFOLK SAND. 13 



roots, giving an advantage of from 1 week to 10 days in the date 

 of maturity of the crop thus planted over the general field crops. 

 Of course, only small areas may thus be treated, but those truckers 

 who take a particular pride in placing the first melons from their 

 district upon the early market frequently adopt this method for 

 securing extra early maturity. 



The Norfolk sand has practically made the reputation of the State 

 of New Jersey for the production of sweet potatoes. Large areas of 

 this crop are annually planted in the south central and southwestern 

 counties of the State upon this type of soil. Not only are the yields 

 satisfactory, but the potatoes themselves are sweet and of a fine, 

 mealy texture, such as is demanded by the northern consumer. It is 

 probable also that sweet-potato cultivation for the northern market 

 could well be extended throughout eastern Virginia, eastern North 

 Carolina, and even into eastern South Carolina by utilizing the Nor- 

 folk sand. The northern market demands a dry, mealy potato which 

 is not usually appreciated by the southern growers. In consequence 

 the selection of the Norfolk sand for the planting of particular varie- 

 ties, especially the red varieties of sweet potatoes, should be followed 

 in the more southern region. 



The Norfolk sand is also used for the production of the extra early 

 Irish potatoes which make their appearance on the northern market 

 in the early months of spring. The yields per acre of these potatoes 

 are not particularly high, ranging. around 100 bushels per acre. The 

 earliest shipments from the region between Savannah, Ga., and 

 Norfolk, Va., secure the highest market prices. In the case of this 

 crop it is also possible in most" of the southern locations to produce 

 some other later season truck crops following the removal of the 

 potatoes, or and this practice is frequently to be preferred to pro- 

 duce some leguminous forage crop or cover crop for the feeding of 

 the work stock or for incorporation in the soil to maintain or restore 

 organic matter. 



The Norfolk sand is also used from Florida northward along the 

 Atlantic coast for the production of extra early English peas as a 

 truck crop and to a limited extent for their production for the can- 

 ning factory. Snap beans are also produced for the early market in 

 Florida, Georgia, and the North Carolina trucking districts. Both 

 of these crops mature at a very early date and receive the highest 

 prices for shipments to northern markets. Some of the truckers 

 practice the extremely intensive system of securing a crop of peas or 

 beans at a very early date from the Norfolk sand. Before either crop 

 is harvested they plant, immediately adjoining the rows of peas or 

 beans, hills of cucumbers, which at a slightly later date will mature 

 an extra early crop for market. The yields of cucumbers are not 

 particularly high, and the soil is not peculiarly suited to the produc- 



