8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



The use of the Norfolk sandy loam varies widely in the areas where 

 it occurs. In the more northern Atlantic Coast States it is largely 

 used for general farming or for special trucking. In the South gen- 

 eral farming upon the Norfolk sandy loam is confined mainly to 

 cotton, with certain special early truck crops like the early Irish 

 potatoes. There still remain thousands of acres of the type, particu- 

 larly in southern Alabama and Texas, which are not farmed. With 

 improvements in the methods of 'crop production, and possibly with 

 the introduction of new crops, considerable areas of the type will 

 become available for a wide range of agricultural uses. 



Within the lower lying portions of the Atlantic Coastal Plain the 

 Norfolk sandy loam is probably only exceeded in value for the pro- 

 duction of cotton by the Norfolk fine sandy loam and by certain 

 types of the Orangeburg series. It is possible under proper climatic 

 conditions to produce the short-staple upland cotton and also the 

 long-staple and sea-island cotton upon this type. 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



Corn is almost universally produced upon the Norfolk sandy loam. 

 In New Jersey the type is well suited to this crop, and yields of 35 

 to 45 and 50 bushels per acre are secured. Farther south the produc- 

 tion is not maintained at so high an average, and from 12 to 30 

 bushels per acre is considered a good yield, with an average of about 

 20 bushels. For the profitable production of corn the incorporation 

 of considerable amounts of organic matter in the surface soil is 

 necessary. Where such tillage and preparation has been practiced, 

 yields have been doubled within periods of five years. Cases are 

 known where the output has been increased from 25 bushels per acre 

 to 80 and 85 bushels per acre through this practice. 



Cotton is generally grown south of the Virginia line. In all of the 

 areas where it is produced upon the Norfolk sandy loam the yields 

 vary decidedly with the character of tillage which the crop has re- 

 ceived. Upon the best tilled fields of the type cotton yields from 

 one-half to three-fourths bale per acre of medium upland cotton. 

 Upon other portions not so carefully tended the yields may sink as 

 low as two-fifths of a bale per acre. It would be possible through 

 the adoption of proper crop rotation, the incorporation of organic 

 matter, and the shallow tillage^4th surface soil at frequent inter- 

 vals during the growing season to increase the average production 

 to at least three-fourths bale per acre. 



Oats are usually sown as a winter crop upon the majority of the 

 cotton plantations in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. The yields 

 upon the Norfolk sandy loam are frequently very low. In most cas 



