10 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



through any cause, the corn failed to make a good growth. The 

 yields of buckwheat range from 12 to 25 bushels per acre with a 

 general average of about 18 bushels. The grain is ground for the 

 flour and the bran or middlings constitutes a feed stuff rich in protein 

 and much used in connection with corn when fed to dairy cows. 

 The straw is supposed to have a low feed value, but constitutes an 

 excellent organic manure or bedding. 



A small acreage of potatoes is grown upon nearly every farm on 

 the Volusia loam. The yields secured are extremely variable, rang- 

 ing from almost total failure in unfavorable seasons to 250 bushels 

 per acre where the cultivation and care of the crop is understood. 

 With proper preparation and treatment the Volusia loam is a very 

 good potato soil and the growing of the crop might well be extended. 



Dairying constitutes the chief present form of agriculture upon 

 the Volusia loam. The type is most successfully tilled to those crops 

 which are used by the dairy farmer, and corn, oats, and mixed hay 

 dominate the type. For their utilization nearly every farm maintains 

 from 6 to 50 head of dairy cows, depending upon the size of the 

 farm and the demand for dairy products. A large proportion of 

 the milk is made into butter at local creameries or into cheese at 

 cooperative or proprietary cheese factories. Where milk-shipping 

 facilities exist market milk is produced or cream is shipped. In 

 conjunction with dairying and growing out of it, veal and pork 

 are produced as by-products of the feeding of skim milk and whey 

 from the creameries and cheese factories. 



Formerly the Volusia loam supported large numbers of sheep, and 

 the annual wool clip was an important item in the farm accounts. 

 More recently the number of sheep maintained has very greatly de- 

 creased and spring lambs constitute the most important sales by the 

 sheep growers now engaged in farming this type of soil. 



The Volusia loam is well suited to the maintenance of a good type 

 of live-stock husbandry, the form of which should be determined 

 by the local market demands. In general dairying should be the 

 leading occupation, but the fattening of beef cattle, the feeding of 

 sheep and swine, and the breeding of high-class horses for farm use, 

 all have their place upon this soil. 



FARM EQUIPMENT. 



The equipment of farm buildings upon the Volusia loam is gen- 

 erally good and well suited to the dairy uses to which it is chiefly 

 devoted. The majority of farms are improved with a comfortable 

 farmhouse and outbuildings. The large dairy barn is frequently 

 the most expensive building upon the farm, while silos are coming 

 into general use for the storing of the corn crop. 



