SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 21 



make it compact and stiff. In some cases compaction amounts almost 

 to a "hardpan" condition. The deeper subsoil in places is a pale 

 yellow coarse sandy loam. 



The larger areas of the Norfolk loam lie in the lower plain where the 

 surface is nearly level. In such locations drainage is not completely 

 established and the deeper subsoil is frequently found to be saturated. 

 The areas of greatest extent at the higher levels are fairly well drained 

 under natural conditions, but can be improved by the installation of 

 tile. Some small areas, not typical, occur in the slight depressions 

 of the higher plain. These possess no natural outlet for drainage and 

 the deep subsoil is inclined to be wet. 



A part of this type has been cleared and used for the production 

 of both forage and truck crops. By far the larger part, including 

 large areas in the lower plain, are uncleared or partly overgrown with 

 second-growth (see PI. IV, fig. 2) oak and pine. The type is not 

 highly esteemed for truck-crop production, but may be so used if 

 underdrainage is installed, as has been shown upon the grounds of 

 the Virginia Truck Experiment Station. 



Norfolk silt loam. — The surface soil of the Norfolk silt loam consists 

 of 10 or 12 inches of yellowish-brown silt loam. The subsoil, to 

 36 inches or more in depth, is a stiff, compact, pale-yellow silt loam. 

 The type is developed only in one small, depressed area upon the 

 Experiment Station Farm and probably represents an accumulation 

 of fine material washed in from the surrounding area of Norfolk loam. 

 So far as is known this soil does not occur extensively within the 

 general region. 



Norfolk gravelly loam. — To a depth of 5 or 6 inches the surface 

 soil of the Norfolk gravelly loam is a gray to yellowish-brown, gravelly 

 sandy loam. The fine gravel and coarse sand are decidedly apparent, 

 but there is enough fine-grained material present to cause the surface 

 to clod and bake after rains. The subsoil, from 5 to 16 inches in 

 depth, is a coarse-grained gravelly sandy loam. From 16 to 36 inches 

 or more the deep subsoil is a sticky, yellow gravelly loam. This 

 deep subsoil is frequently compacted and mortarlike. 



The surface of the type is nearly level to slightly sloping. The 

 natural drainage conditions are only fair or, over some areas, decidedly 

 defective. A considerable part of this soil remains in forest and the 

 remainder is farmed with a variety of truck and market garden crops. 

 The settlement of colored farmers near Burton is partly located on 

 this soil. 



Norfolk gravelly sandy loam. — The surface soil of the Norfolk 

 gravelly sandy loam is a gray to yellow coarse sandy loam, 6 or 8 

 inches deep. A large amount of fine gravel is usually present. The 

 subsoil is a coarse, loamy yellow sand. It is usually underlain by a 

 heavier yellow sandy loam. 



