SOILS OF THE SASSAFKAS SEKIES. 43 



The medium to late summer crop of Irish potatoes is also largely 

 produced upon the Sassafras silt loam, both in southern New Jersey 

 and upon the Maryland-Delaware Peninsula. The preparation of 

 the land does not differ materially from that of the preparation 

 for corn, although spring plowing is possibly more generally prac- 

 ticed for the potato crop. In the fertilization commercial fertilizer 

 is used in larger quantities, applications of 1,000 pounds or more 

 per acre being made by the best growers. A fertilizer high in potash 

 content is usually employed. The 3 T ields vary from about 100 

 bushels per acre for the early crop to more than 200 bushels for the 

 later crop in a favorable season. 



Locally, both in southern New Jersey and on the Delaware-Mary- 

 land Peninsula, asparagus is produced to a considerable extent upon 

 the Sassafras silt loam. The beds are long-lived and productive, 

 but the asparagus, although excellent in quality, is not ready for 

 marketing as early in the spring as the crop which is grown upon the 

 more sandy soils. 



The Sassafras silt loam was at one time extensively used on the 

 Maryland-Delaware Peninsula for the production of peaches, and 

 proved its value for this crop. Owing to the invasion of certain 

 diseases many orchards have been cut out and their area is at present 

 devoted to the general farm crops. 



Recently the Sassafras silt loam has been extensively planted to 

 pears, the Kieffer being the variety usually selected. The Kieffer 

 is fairly resistant to blight, makes a strong growth, and usually 

 gives a heavy yield. In both Maryland and Delaware thousands of 

 bushels of Kieffers are annually canned in the local canneries. A 

 considerable proportion of this crop is produced upon the Sassafras 

 silt loam. A young orchard of Kieffer pears is shown in Plate 

 VIII, figure 1." 



The Sassafras silt loam is undoubtedly one of the best soils for 

 apple production in the Maryland-Delaware Peninsula and in south- 

 ern New Jersey. Several varieties are adapted to this type, but it 

 is probable that Winesap, Stayman Winesap, Paragon, and Grimes 

 Golden are best suited for this particular soil, under the climatic 

 conditions existing in those sections of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 

 and of the Chesapeake Bay region where the type is developed. 

 Wherever apples are to be planted upon this type the site should 

 have some elevation and good natural drainage, both for water and 

 for air. 



Where the Sassafras silt loam is encountered in southern Mary- 

 land a considerable amount of the Maryland pipe-smoking tobacco 

 is still grown upon it. The soil is generally considered rather too 

 heavy and retentive of moisture to produce the best quality of leaf 

 and the area planted to tobacco is gradually being reduced. 



