THE VOLUSIA LOAM. 11 



The equipment of work stock is not always so satisfactory since 

 many lightweight teams are used upon these rolling to hilly lands. 

 The farm machinery in use varies considerably from rather de- 

 ficient equipment upon remote and poorly farmed lands to the best 

 modern machinery upon well-equipped dairy farms. Heavier teams 

 and more labor-saving machinery might be used to advantage. 



In addition to the usual outfit of work stock and tools the ma- 

 jority of farms upon the Volusia loam support dairy herds ranging 

 in number from 6 to 50 head. Some of these herds are well-selected 

 grades or full-bloods of the leading dairy breeds, but the vast ma- 

 jority are grades or native stock of no particular breeding. A great 

 improvement in the condition of the dairy farms could be effected 

 by the use of full-blood sires and the systematic grading up of the 

 herds. The dairy herds upon many of the farms constitute the 

 chief investment of the farmer aside from the title to the land. 



SUMMARY. 



The Volusia loam is an important general farming and dairying 

 soil found in southern New York, northern Pennsylvania, and north- 

 eastern Ohio. 



The type lies at altitudes ranging from 600 to 1,500 feet above sea 

 level, and its surface is rolling to hilly with a small proportion of 

 land so sloping as to be too steep for cultivation. 



The greater part of the Volusia loam is fairly well drained natu- 

 rally, but depressed and level areas upon nearly every farm would be 

 improved by the installation of tile underdrainage. 



This type is an excellent soil for the production of grass for hay or 

 pasturage and is largely devoted to those uses. Oats constitute the 

 chief small-grain crop, and barley and winter wheat are grown to a 

 limited extent. At all of the lower elevations corn is successfully 

 grown for grain, while even at the highest altitudes the flint varieties 

 may be grown for silage. Buckwheat is an important catch crop, 

 giving good yields of grain. Potatoes are grown upon nearly every 

 farm, but only on a limited acreage. 



For the improvement of crop yields the Volusia loam quite gener- 

 ally needs better drainage, liming, and the incorporation of addi- 

 tional organic matter in the surface soil. 



Special crops are not generally grown upon the type, although 

 hardy winter apples are well suited to production upon well-drained 

 areas of proper local elevation. Cabbage and onions may be grown 

 upon unusually mucky portions of the type after they have been 

 drained. Small fruits thrive upon well-drained, somewhat gravelly 

 phases of this soil. 



