8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



duced upon the Chester loam. Potatoes are grown to a considerable 

 extent in southeastern Pennsylvania, the average yield from this soil 

 being between 100 and 125 bushels per acre. Many of the farmers 

 elsewhere upon this type plant a few acres of potatoes annually, 

 which are sold as the money crop from the farm. 



The Chester loam is an important soil in the areas where it occurs 

 for the maintenance of the dairy business. In southeastern Pennsyl- 

 vania, owing to the proximity to large city markets, dairy products 

 have largely replaced the fat steers and wheat, which formerly con- 

 stituted the principal products of the areas where this type occurs. 

 Milk is shipped principally to the wholesale markets in Philadelphia 

 or to local creameries, depending upon transportation facilities. As 

 a result a large proportion of the crops produced upon the type, 

 aside from potatoes and wheat, is used for the feeding of dairy cattle. 

 Nearly all of the corn grown, a large proportion of the hay, and 

 practically all of the oat crop are either fed to the dairy herd or to the 

 work animals upon the farm. 



As a result of this system of farming large quantities of stable 

 manure are produced upon each farm annually. This is carefully 

 applied to the soil, usually to the ground which is being prepared 

 for the corn or potato, crops, in amounts ranging from 6 to 15 two- 

 horse loads per acre. This preeminence of the dairy business and the 

 consequent general use of stable manures accounts largely for the 

 well-sustained organic matter content of the Chester loam and for 

 its high crop-producing power. In addition to these large quan- 

 tities of stable manure, acid phosphate, other forms of phosphoric 

 acid, or the complete commercial fertilizers are used for the corn, 

 wheat, and potato crop. The applications vary from 150 to 200 

 pounds per acre to as high as 800 and 1,000 pounds of such commercial 

 fertilizer, the latter quantities being used in connection* with the 

 intensive cultivation of the potato crop. 



FARM EQUIPMENT. 



The ordinary farm equipment of the Chester loam is of a rather 

 high grade. The buildings are well constructed and ample for tlu. 

 purposes of dairy or stock farming. Two and four horse teams are 

 used both for the preparation of the land and for the cultivation of 

 the crop and its harvesting. Plowing is ordinarily to a depth of 

 6 or 7 inches, although for the small-grain crops a less depth is 

 frequent and is considered sufficient. Although orcharding is not 

 an important business upon the Chester loam, nearly all of the farms 

 upon this type maintain small orchards for the production of the 

 household supply of fruit. In a few localities orchard planting has 

 exceeded this limited amount. 





