THE CHESTER LOAM. 7 



Apples, pears, and peaches may be grown upon the Chester loam 

 to good advantage in all of the more elevated areas. In south- 

 eastern Pennsylvania the York Imperial and Stayman Winesap are 

 grown to perfection on this soil. In the more southern areas the 

 Virginia Winesap is preferred. Some successful peach orchards 

 have been established. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



Throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland it is probable that 75 

 per cent of the entire area of the Chester loam is occupied for the 

 production of crops or for permanent pasture. The balance of the 

 type consists of the steeper slopes or small rocky areas that are 

 topographically unsuited to agricultural occupation. Such areas are 

 commonly in forest and constitute the farm woodlot. In the more 

 southern areas in central and northern Virginia erosion has so seri- 

 ously affected some areas of the Chester loam that not over 25 per 

 cent of the type is now occupied for farming purposes, the remainder 

 growing up to a sparse growth of hardwood timber. Considerable 

 areas of this character could be reoccupied for agricultural purposes 

 if proper precautions were taken to prevent excessive erosion. 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



It is probable that the largest area devoted to any single grain crop 

 upon the Chester loam is given to corn growing. Throughout the 

 region where this type occurs, corn produces from 40 to 60 bushels 

 and in extreme cases as high as 100 bushels per acre. The variation* 

 in yield depend largely upon the care of the individual fields and 

 upon the amount of attention given in the application of stable 

 manure and commercial fertilizers to the soil. Wheat is commonly 

 grown as 'the dominant small grain, yields ranging from 20 to '25 

 bushels in southeastern Pennsylvania, from 15 to 20 bushels in central 

 Maryland, and from 12 to 18 bushels in the Virginia areas where 

 the type has been encountered. To a minor degree also the yields 

 vary with the amount of erosion which has been experienced over the 

 surface of the soil. Rye is grown to a small extent, particularly in 

 the southeastern Pennsylvania counties. Hay is one of the great 

 crops upon the Chester loam, and it is probable that a larger area is 

 devoted to the growing of grass than to that of all other crops com- 

 bined. Timothy, redtop, red clover, and alsike clover all produce 

 excellent yields upon this soil, and in the more southern areas the 

 bluegrass also gives a good sod for permanent pasture. At the 

 present time a large proportion of the hay produced upon this type 

 is fed to dairy animals or to steers which are being fatted for market. 

 There is, however, a considerable market for high-class hay pro- 



