SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 17 



Norfolk fine sandy loams are the chosen soils for this crop, although 

 the Keyport fine sandy loam is likewise important in its production. 



Spinach is second in acreage to kale, covering 70.8 acres, or 6.5 

 per cent of the total upland area. Its production is decidedly 

 localized upon the Sassafras fine sandy loam, the best drained soil 

 in the area. Only the Norfolk fine sandy loam bears any large addi- 

 tional acreage. 



The fall crop of Irish potatoes, the "Peachblow" variety, occu- 

 pies 60.3 acres, or 5.6 per cent of the area. This fall crop is chiefly 

 upon the Norfolk and Keyport fine sandy loams. 



The acreage in strawberries is slightly less than in June because of 

 the plowing out of old beds. The fall acreage is found chiefly upon 

 the Norfolk and Keyport fine sandy loams. 



Only a small extent of other fall crops is shown in this map. 



One of the characteristics of the cropping system of the district 

 is brought out clearly in the tabulation of the general farm crops for 

 August. The area in hay amounts to 312.4 acres, or 28.9 per cent 

 of the entire area. Corn, either planted alone or interplanted with 

 cowpeas and soy beans, occupies 265 acres, or 24.4 per cent of the 

 total. Cowpeas and millet comprise the other crops of this class. 



It is the common practice in this intensively farmed region to 

 plant as large an area as possible to the spring and early, summer 

 truck crops. As fast as these crops are harvested and the ground 

 can be prepared, it is planted to a summer forage crop, usually corn. 

 In order that some leguminous crop may be grown at some perod in 

 the rotation, it is coming to be the practice to interplant either cow- 

 peas or soy beans in the corn, or to drill or sow cowpeas broadcast 

 upon the land. (See PL VI, fig. 2.) By this method a supply of 

 forage for the work stock is produced at a period in the year when 

 the land would not be occupied by cash crops, and many of the 

 truckers utilize this time to grow a legume crop either for green 

 manure or forage. 



The large area in hay arises from the fact that it is almost entirely 

 volunteer grasses, chiefly crab grass (PI. VII, fig. 1), which spring 

 up spontaneously upon the areas from which the spring truck crops 

 have been harvested. This grass is allowed to come to maturity 

 and a considerable acreage is cut for hay annually. 



After these different forage crops have been harvested the land 

 is ready for late fall or winter plowing and is used either for a winter 

 cabbage crop or for the potato area of the next spring. This system 

 permits the production of some forage, the growing of a green manur- 

 ing crop, when desired, and the utilization of the residual effects of 

 manures and fertilizers which have been applied to the preceding 

 spring truck crop. 



GL681 — 22— Bull. 1005 2 



