42 BULLETIN 1005, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



berries, and cabbage are the most important crops grown. The sum- 

 mer and fall crops are chiefly corn or corn and cowpeas. There is 

 abundant evidence that the Portsmouth sandy loam and fine sandy 

 loam are well suited to potato growing when good drainage can be 

 provided. Large crops are obtained at nearly as early a date as 

 upon the fine sandy loams of better natural drainage. 



It is thus apparent from a study of the soils of the Norfolk trucking 

 district that fine sandy loam soils dominate in total extent and are 

 the preferred soils for truck-crop production. The Norfolk fine sandy 

 loam is the most important trucking soil. Upon it the greater part 

 of the early Irish potato crop is grown. It is an important cabbage 

 soil. Strawberries are successfully grown. Snap beans, peas, cu- 

 cumbers, radishes, beets, and cauliflower are also grown. It is used 

 in summer for egg plant, tomatoes, and cantaloupes. It carries a 

 large acreage of kale and spinach in the winter months. 



The Sassafras fine sandy loam is of much less extent, but is also a 

 highly prized trucking soil. Its crop uses do not differ materially 

 from those of the Norfolk fine sandy loam. 



The coarse sandy loams are of decidedly smaller extent than the 

 fine sandy loams in the district. They are very fully occupied for 

 truck crop production, especially for the growing of the winter crops 

 of spinach and kale. Strawberries cover the largest acreage in the 

 areas mapped, but this is not held to be the general rule. Potatoes 

 are not grown on either the Norfolk or Sassafras coarse sandy loam 

 to as great extent as upon the fine sandy loams. Cabbage and snap 

 beans are important crops. 



The loam soils differ with respect to truck-crop production. The 

 small areas of well-drained Sassafras loam are occupied nearly to 

 their full extent for the growing of strawberries, cabbage, and spinach. 

 The Norfolk loam, not usually well drained, is largely forested or used 

 for the growing of general farm crops. Strawberries, potatoes, cab- 

 bage, and spinach are successfully grown on the best-drained parts 

 of the type. 



The gravelly loams are of very limited extent in the district and 

 are not esteemed for trucking. 



Large areas of the soils of the Keyport, Suffolk, and Portsmouth 

 series remain in forest. Well-located areas, either drained or capable 

 of drainage, are available for truck-crop production, especially for 

 growing potatoes, strawberries, and cabbage. 



Limitations in drainage, caused by position and soil texture, 

 chiefly control the distribution of truck-crop production in the Nor- 

 folk district and strongly influence the distribution of the various 

 crops upon the well-drained and moderately drained types of soils. 



