THE PRINCIPAL SOILS AND CROPS OF VIRGINIA v 



is one of the important soil types, and is the earliest truck 

 soil of the area. This soil is found south of the James 

 and between the Nansemond River and Western Branch of 

 the Elizabeth River. Its elevation is from ten to twenty 

 feet above the sea level ; the surface is generally rolling 

 and the drainage good. The principal vegetable crops 

 grown on this soil are cabbage, kale,. spinach, asparagus, 

 peas, beans, cucumbers, and early varieties of the potato. 

 The Norfolk fine sandy loam carries more humus and is 

 darker in color than Norfolk sand ; it is the most extensive 

 trucking soil in the area. Nearly all of the principal truck 

 crops succeed on this soil ; it is also well adapted to the 

 production of fine strawberries. Norfolk loam and Leon- 

 ardtown loam are among the soils better adapted to general 

 farming than to trucking. 



The Middle Virginia region. The area forming this 

 region extends westward from the Tidewater line to the 

 foothills of the Blue Ridge. This region is triangular in 

 shape and comprises an area of 12,470 square miles. The 

 highest elevation within this region is about 500 feet above 

 sea level. This is the oldest portion of the state. The 

 soil is derived from granite and similar rocks, and is 

 generally thin. However, the soils of this region are 

 readily improved and some of the lowlands are .exceedingly 

 fertile. 



Crops of the Middle Virginia region Tobacco is the 

 leading crop of this section, and the exclusive cultivation 

 of this crop is responsible for the "worn out" condition of 

 the soils in many districts. This crop, corn, wheat, and 

 the grasses succeed on the best types of soil found in this 



