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



crops upon the type and the production of both for hay, and as 

 green manuring crops, should become more general. 



The Sassafras fine sandy loam may be characterized as a fairly 

 good general farming soil, capable of considerable improvement 

 through the introduction of leguminous green manuring and forage 

 crops into the normal rotation of corn and wheat. It is also a 

 fairly good soil for growing some of the vegetable crops wherever 

 market facilities are available. It is moderately good soil, in the 

 localities where it occurs, for the production of some of the tree 

 fruits, although not to be recommended for extensive commercial 

 plantings. 



SASSAFRAS LOAM. 



A total area of 128.356 acres of the Sassafras loam has been en- 

 countered in the soil survey work. By far the greater part of the 

 type is found in the eastern counties of Maryland, between Delaware 

 Bay and Chesapeake Bay. Small areas are also found on Western 

 Long Island and in southern Maryland. 1 



The surface soil of the Sassafras loam to an average depth of 

 8 inches or more is a mellow brown or yellowish-brown loam. It is 

 soft and silty in character. It grades downward into a stiffer and 

 more compact yellow loam subsoil which becomes distinctly reddish 

 in tinge at depths of 24 to 32 inches. The subsoil is usually under- 

 lain by fine gravel or coarse sand at depths ranging from 2 to 3£ 

 feet. 



The character of the soil and subsoil is such that a considerable 

 amount of moisture is easily retained for crop production while 

 effective drainage is promoted over the greater proportion of the 

 type by the presence of the coarser material lying at greater depth. 



Under ordinary conditions of cultivation the surface soil is easily 

 worked and friable. Where the organic matter content of the 

 surface soil has become reduced and especially where the land has 

 been grazed when the soil was too wet there is a tendency toward 

 compacted surface soil and toward breaking into clods and lumps 

 when the land is plowed. 



The Sassafras loam is chiefly developed upon the low, rolling 

 uplands of the eastern counties of Maryland and upon the nearly 

 level surfaces of the interstream ridges in the counties west of 

 Chesapeake Bay. The small area on western Long Island lies at 

 low elevations and is gently sloping to nearly level. In general 

 there are few steep slopes within the area of this soil type. The 

 recognized value of the Sassafras loam as an excellent general f arm- 



1 It is probable that considerable areas of the Sassafras loam have been included in 

 the areas of the Sassafras silt loam in the surveys of Cecil, Harford, and Kent Counties, 

 Md. These can not be separated at the present time. 



