24 BULLETIN 159, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Sassafras loamy sand is an intermediate gradation between 

 the Sassafras sand and the Sassafras sandy loam. For the general 

 farm crops it ranks below the latter and above the former. 



The most extensive areas of the Sassafras loamy sand are level to 

 gently undulating in surface topography and sufficiently elevated to 

 be well drained to droughty. There are some areas where the deeper 

 subsoil is rather poorly drained, but these are of limited extent. 



A considerable part of the Sassafras loamy sand has been cleared 

 and occupied for the production of the general farm crops. More 

 recently areas located near*to canning factories or to shipping facili- 

 ties have been used to some extent for the growing of tomatoes for 

 canning, of sweet potatoes, and of melons and cantaloupes. 



Among the grains, corn is most extensively grown. The yields 

 obtained are low under ordinary systems of management. Wheat also 

 gives low yields upon this soil. Some crab grass is cut for hay. 

 Crimson clover has been tried upon this soil and gives fair yields of 

 hay, especially when a light application of lime is made with the 

 seeding. Cowpeas are also grown to some extent, chiefly as a hay 

 crop. It has been found that the other general farm crops produce 

 larger yields following a crop of crimson clover, and the practice of 

 using this legume as a winter-cover crop and for the purpose of green 

 manuring should be extended. 



Where tomatoes are grown for canning moderate yields are secured. 

 Crimson clover is frequently grown as a green manure in connection 

 with this crop, giving markedly increased yields. 



Buckwheat and rye are grown to a very limited extent. 



The Sassafras loamy sand may be characterized as a rather low- 

 grade general farming soil which is much better suited to the grow- 

 ing of special crops where a market for such crops, especially toma- 

 toes, sweet potatoes, and melons, exists. 



This type is normally deficient in organic matter, and the use of 

 stable and green manures is to be recommended. 



SASSAFRAS FINE SAND. 



The Sassafras fine sand has been mapped in the Trenton area, in 

 New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and in Anne Arundel and Prince 

 Georges Counties, Md., to a total extent of 78,302 acres. 1 In the 

 Trenton area this soil type is found on both sides of the Delaware 

 River from the vicinity of Trenton southward. In Maryland no 

 areas of the Sassafras fine sand have been encountered, except along 

 the upper course of the Patuxent River. It is probable that the 

 type is not of widespread occurrence outside of the localities where 

 it has already been mapped. 



1 Considerable areas of this soil were included with the Sassafras sand in the Salem 

 area, New Jersey. 



