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



bage are grown. Kale and spinach are also planted for a late fall 

 and early winter crop. 



A large part of the market-garden crops grown within a radius 

 of 25 to 30 miles of the city markets is transported to them by spe- 

 cially constructed two-horse market wagons. The vegetables are 

 usually picked in the afternoon, transported to market during the 

 night, and the produce sold on the wholesale market in the early 

 morning. The direct sale of vegetables to the consumer is only un- 

 dertaken by a very few growers. 



The chief specialization in cropping with reference to soil adapta- 

 tions in this district consists in the selection of the Sassafras sand 

 for the growing of the extra early market garden crops, wherever it 

 is available for such uses. The Sassafras gravelly loam is also used 

 for market gardening and trucking, but its special value as an early 

 Irish potato soil has led to its extensive use for the growing of that 

 crop. It is probable that a large part of the potato crop grown on 

 Long Island is produced on this soil. 



There is such a demand for every acre suited to the growing of the 

 different special crops that the truckers utilize the available land 

 for the crops which their experience proves to be profitable, depend- 

 ing upon special skill in soil manipulation to a large degree for their 

 success in crop production. The opportunities for soil selection for 

 special crops is, therefore, somewhat limited or obscured. 



The belt of territory in central Xew Jersey which is chiefly occu- 

 pied by the soils of the Sassafras series is also well located with re- 

 spect to great city markets and well provided with means of trans- 

 portation. Within this region there is quite a wide variety in the 

 character of the available soil types and the different uses of the soils 

 of the Sassafras series for characteristic cropping systems is rather 

 clearly marked. 



Upon the heavier soils, especially the Sassafras silt loam, the grow- 

 ing of hay and forage and the production of corn and wheat con- 

 stitute the chief industries so far as acreage occupied is concerned. 

 Excellent yields are obtained and the farming tends toward a rather 

 intensive form of grain and grass production, generally diversified by 

 the growing of one or more special crops for cash sale. Early Irish 

 potatoes are most generally grown for this purpose, with tomatoes 

 for market probably second in importance. Dairying is carried on 

 to some extent for the production of market milk. 



The more sandy soils, such as the Sassafras sandy loam, fine sand, 

 and sand, are much more completely occupied for special forms of 

 crop production. This arises both from the fact that they are nat- 

 urally well suited to the uses of the market gardener and trucker, 

 and also from the fact that the larger areas of these types are un- 

 usually well situated with respect to market and transportation 



