DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE SOILS OF VIRGINIA. 9 



best adapted to forestry. On the more level and less elevated areas 

 wheat, corn, rye, barley, and fruits, especially apples, are produced. 

 The soils are particularly adapted to fruit culture, and this industry 

 is rapidly extending. At a medium elevation and under suitable 

 conditions of slope and exposure fruit is the principal crop. Cattle 

 raising is one of the most important industries. 



The sand, which occupies a large area, possesses a high agricul- 

 tural value aside from forestry. It is best adapted to the production 

 of peaches, grapes, berries, and to light farming, including garden 

 vegetables. The black loam is a productive soil, but its isolated 

 situation and steep surface do not admit of extensive cultivation. 

 It is especially adapted to apples, the Albemarle pippin in particular, 

 which finds its best development in the coves on the east side of the 

 mountains. The clay is best adapted, aside from forestry, to wheat, 

 corn, clover, and timothy. Bluegrass and timothy make a good 

 pasture. This type is one of the most important apple soils of the 

 mountains', particularly for the Winesap and similar varieties. Much 

 of the type is too rough and steep for farming purposes and must be 

 used for forestry and grazing. The sandy loam is the best general- 

 purpose soil in the Porters series. It is well adapted to corn, Irish 

 potatoes, rye, apples, peaches, berries, and garden vegetables. Wheat, 

 oats, and clover are suitable crops for the heavier phases of the type. 



Talladega series. — The soils of the Talladega series are grayish 

 brown to light brown. The subsoils are red and have a greasy feel. 

 The series is typically developed in the southern Appalachian Moun- 

 tains, generally occupying strongly rolling to mountainous country. 

 The soils are derived from metamorphic rocks, principally micaceous 

 schists. Large areas of the Talladega soils are best suited to forestry 

 and pasturage. The smoother areas give moderate results with corn, 

 forage crops, and in the South with cotton. The soils are probably 

 stronger than those of the Chandler series, from which they differ 

 physically chiefly in the red color of their subsoils. 



The loam occupies a small area and is best suited to corn and 

 wheat, although fair yields of oats and grasses may be obtained. The 

 gravelly loam is of very small extent. It is too gravelly in some 

 places to be cultivated and possesses no special adaptations. 



Upshur series. — In the Upshur series both soils and subsoils are 

 Indian red. Some types have a grayish to grayish-red color in the 

 surface soils. These soils are closely associated in occurrence with 

 the Dekalb. They are derived from Indian-red sandstone and shales, 

 frequently of a calcareous nature. They occupy strongly rolling to 

 mountainous country, and drainage is well established. The soils of 

 this series are generally more productive than the corresponding 

 members of the Dekalb series. The silt loam is the only type which 

 14272°— Bull. 46—13 2 



