SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 41 



The Keyport fine sandy loam occupies a moderate area in the 

 Churchland survey. It is found to some extent throughout the 

 Norfolk district in moderately drained localities on the level upland 

 usually somewhat remote from the main drainage ways. It is avail- 

 able for trucking when artificially drained and is used for growing 

 general farm crops or remains in forest when not so improved. In 

 the area surveyed the type has all been underdrained by tile and is 

 occupied nearly to its extent by various crops. Over 95 per cent of 

 its area is in truck in the spring. Potatoes are the most important 

 crop grown, covering nearly 59 per cent^of the soil. Cabbage is sec- 

 ond in importance. Cucumbers, snap beans, and strawberries are 

 the other, crops grown. In the late summer and fall two-thirds of the 

 type is occupied by forage or green-manuring crops. Volunteer hay 

 and corn, either alone or with cowpeas and soy beans, are chiefly 

 grown. Kale is the most important winter truck crop. Fall pota- 

 toes, spinach, and a fall crop of beans are also grown. 



The Suffolk fine sandy loam is of rather small area in the region. 

 It is not naturally well drained and occupies level to slightly de- 

 pressed areas. Underdrainage is requisite to render it available for 

 trucking. In the Churchland area it has been drained and three- 

 fourths of its extent is used for spring truck crops. Potatoes are the 

 leading crop, occupying nearly one-half of its area. Cabbage is 

 important. Snap beans, strawberries, and cucumbers are also gown 

 on the type. Kale is the only fall crop grown extensively on it. It 

 carries a high percentage of corn and volunteer hay as summer crops. 



The Suffolk loam is of small extent within the areas mapped, but 

 occupies much larger areas to the south of the trucking district. It 

 is naturally poorly drained, occupying level tracts at some distance 

 from the more pronounced stream ways. In general it is either for- 

 ested or occupied chiefly for the growing of forage crops. Only about 

 one-third of the area mapped as this soil is cleared and cultivated. 

 This area is about equally divided between general farm crops and a 

 variety of truck crops, chiefly strawberries, grown by colored farmers. 



The Suffolk gravelly loam is an unimportant type in the district. 

 It is poorly drained and chiefly in forest. The cleared area mapped 

 is used by colored farmers for growing forage crops and truck crops. 



No important areas of soils of the Portsmouth series are included 

 within the two detailed surveys. In general the Portsmouth sandy 

 loam, fine sandy loam, and loam occupy extensive tracts somewhat 

 to the south of the region of intensive truck farming. They are 

 poorly drained naturally and chiefly remain in forest. Small areas 

 within the trucking district and larger areas where drainage has 

 been established have proved to be of considerable value for the 

 growing of certain truck crops. The spring crop of potatoes, straw- 



