In the immediate vicinity of Savannah there are several truck 

 farms which include areas of the Norfolk fine sand. Its easy culti- 

 vation and the rapidity with which crops planted upon it mature are 

 locally known and appreciated. To this local evidence of its especial 

 availability for truck growing may be added the statement that the 

 Norfolk fine sand is the earliest winter and spring truck soil along 

 the middle and south Atlantic coasts which at the same time is suf- 

 ficiently retentive of moisture to assure the maturity of medium to 

 large yields per acre. There are other more porous, warmer soils, 

 notably the Norfolk sand or Norfolk coarse sand, which are used 

 for the production of truck crops, but with the exception of the 

 most northern trucking regions they balance early maturity by 

 diminished yields. 



A considerable portion of the trucking industry at present estab- 

 lished near Savannah is conducted upon the Norfolk fine sand. The 

 largest acreage given to any one crop is undoubtedly planted to 

 early Irish potatoes. The seed used is chiefly northern grown and 

 the potatoes are planted aboujt February 1. The tubers have usually 

 reached marketable size by May 15, and the crpp is harvested from 

 that date to June 10. This clears the ground in sufficient time for 

 the production of another crop of potatoes for seed, or, better, for 

 the production of a summer crop of cowpeas to be cut for hay. The 

 yield of early potatoes will usually average from 40 to 50 barrels, of 

 2| bushels each, per acre, and, while the prices secured depend largely 

 upon the time of maturity of the crop, $3 a barrel can usually be 

 depended upon as an average price for the crop as it runs. 



In the production of Irish potatoes large quantities of carefully 

 composted stable manure are used, and this is secured from city 

 stables. In addition the best growers apply about 1,000 pounds per 

 acre of high grade chemical fertilizer, selling at about $40 per ton, 

 and analyzing 4 to 5 per cent of potash and 6 to 7 per cent ammonia. 

 The potash is usually in the sulphate form for use on the potato 

 fop, and nitrate of soda frequently supplies the ammonia, though 

 le sulphate of ammonia is considered better by some successful 

 >wers. 



Considerable attention is also paid to the production of snap beans 

 the Norfolk fine sand and upon other soil types near Savannah, 

 beans are planted during the last week in February and the 

 st picking is made during the first week in May. The beans are 

 mrketed in 3-peck baskets, which bring from $2.50 to $3 a basket for 

 le first shipments. Shipment is discontinued when the price sinks 

 slow $1 a basket, since the cost of basket, picking, and freight 

 lounts to two-thirds that sum. 



A little lettuce is raised on the Norfolk fine sand, though prac- 

 ically none is shipped. 



SS559 Cir. 1909 2 



