SOILS OF THE SASSAFRAS SERIES. 45 



by a topography which permits of the cultivation of a large pro- 

 portion of the land surface. In consequence of these natural advan- 

 tages, a relatively high proportion of the total area of each of the 

 soils of the series has been brought under different forms of agricul- 

 tural occupation. 



The crops grown and the systems of agriculture followed vary in 

 different regions with variations in the character of the soil and 

 with differences in the market and transportation conditions. It is 

 also true that traditional forms of agriculture have to some degree 

 influenced the characteristic crop production of some areas where 

 these soils occur. 



If consideration is given to the total acreages occupied by the chief 

 crops grown upon the soils of this series it is probable that the areas 

 given to corn, wheat, and hay and forage crops greatly exceed the 

 areas devoted to all of the special crops combined. When the total 

 value of the different crops is considered, the special crops take 

 high rank, although the regions of their production are decidedly 

 limited by market demands and the facilities for transportation. 



The area occupied chiefly by the soils of the Sassafras series may, 

 for convenience, be divided into several districts, within which major 

 differences in cropping are characteristic. 



On the western end of Long Island the area devoted to the pro- 

 duction of miscellaneous vegetables as truck and market-garden crops 

 exceeds that given to any other crops. The area planted to Irish po- 

 tatoes is second in importance. Relatively small areas are devoted 

 to hay and forage and to the cereal grains. Among the latter, corn 

 predominates. When consideration is given to the value of the 

 product, it may be said that the combined values of the miscellaneous 

 vegetables and potatoes amount to considerably more than one-half 

 of the total value of crops grown. 



Because of the immediate proximity of this section to the great 

 metropolitan markets, and because of the existence of rapid means 

 of transportation to market and of a large mileage of good roads, 

 the special forms of agriculture have largely supplanted the older 

 systems of grass and grain growing, and the soils of the Sassafras 

 series on Long Island have become special crop soils wherever they 

 are so situated as to be used for any agricultural purpose. 



The market-garden and truck farms on the western end of Long 

 Island are usually of small size, and they are laid out in plots of 

 small acreage, upon which a constant succession of vegetables is 

 kept growing. It is the aim of the market gardener to keep the land 

 constantly occupied during the growing season. In the early spring 

 kale, spinach, and rheubarb are marketed. Later onions, radishes, 

 and lettuce are sold. Their place is taken by early peas, sweet corn, 

 and early potatoes. Later in the season crops of tomatoes and cab- 



