SOILS OF THE SASSAFRAS SERIES. 49 



upon these heavier soils, although early tomatoes for market are not 

 so successfully grown. 



Sweet corn is also grown for canning and Irish potatoes are pro- 

 duced for home use and, to a limited extent, for shipment. 



The dairy industry is becoming established in some localities and 

 milk and cream are shipped to market or butter is made at cream- 

 eries. Some beef cattle are fattened for home use and for local 

 markets. Swine are quite generally kept in small numbers, but 

 chiefly for domestic supply or for the local markets. Some sheep are 

 kept. It is probable, however, that poultry raising is the most im- 

 portant form of animal production for sale. 



When the excellent yields of corn and grass secured from these 

 heavier soils is considered it is noteworthy that the different forms 

 of animal production have not become more generally adopted. 



The southern and southeastern portion of the Maryland-Delaware 

 peninsula is generally occupied by the more sandy members of the 

 Sassafras series and by soils of other series. The Sassafras sandy 

 loam predominates in southern Kent County, Del., and in portions 

 of Sussex County. The Sassafras sand and loamy sand are also 

 important soils south of the Choptank River. Upon these more 

 sandy soils the production of wheat is not so successful as upon the 

 loam and silt loam of this series, and the acreage given to corn 

 greatly predominates. A smaller production of grass and forage 

 crops is also grown and the special crops become of considerable 

 importance both in total area and in gross value of the product. 

 Tomatoes are extensively grown for canning and to some extent for 

 market shipment. Sweet potatoes are an important crop, while Irish 

 potatoes for the city markets are coming to be extensively grown. 



The production of tree fruits is of considerable importance, and the 

 Sassafras sandy loam is recognized as one of the best soils of the sec- 

 tion for growing apples, pears, and peaches. Grapes are also becom- 

 ing established upon this type in Delaware. 



Considerable areas of small fruits, particularly strawberries, are 

 grown and the earlier varieties are produced on the Sassafras sand 

 and sandy loam. The later varieties are more commonly grown on 

 the soils of the Portsmouth series. 



The introduction of the special crops in this section has led to the 

 more complete occupation of the sandy soils for agricultural pur- 

 poses, and they are highly esteemed for the purposes of fruit grow- 

 ing and trucking. 



In general, the crop adaptations of the different soils of the 

 Sassafras series are well understood and quite generally followed in 

 the farm practice of the Maryland-Delaware peninsula. The 

 heavier soils are utilized for grass and grain production; the more 



