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



Stevens, in the Soil Survey of Accomac and Northampton Coun- 

 ties, Va., calls attention to the progressive change from the growing 

 of general farm crops to the production of truck crops on page 17 of 

 his report. 



It should also be remembered that there is rather less duplication 

 of acreage in truck-crop production in these two counties than in other 

 localities. The potato crop is commonly followed by corn or some 

 other forage crop; sweet potatoes require the use of the ground for 

 the entire growing season; strawberries occupy the land for two years 

 or more, and only onions are marketed at a sufficiently early date 

 to permit of duplication of trucking area. 



CLIMATE. 



Climatic records for this important trucking area are rather scanty. 

 Records for Norfolk, Va., Wachaprague, Va., and Pocomoke City, 

 Md., indicate a well-distributed rainfall ranging from 49.5 inches at 

 Norfolk, and 39.6 at Pocomoke City, to 34.3 inches at Wachaprague, 

 which lies between the two and within the area under discussion. 

 The heaviest rainfall occurs during the growing season and is so well 

 distributed that severe droughts are uncommon. The mean annual 

 temperature for the two counties is about 57° F. with long, warm 

 summers and only brief spells of severe weather during the prevalently 

 mild winters. 



The frost data for the three stations indicate a frost-free season 

 of 230 days at Norfolk, 219 days at Wachaprague within the area, 

 and 185 days at Pocomoke City inland and north of the section. It 

 is probable that over the greater part of the Eastern Shore counties 

 of Virginia the growing season is approximately 220 days. 



The influence of the large bodies of water so nearly surrounding 

 these counties is strongly felt in the equalization of climatic con- 

 ditions. Summer heat is decreased by cool sea breezes, the cold of 

 winter is tempered by the proximity of large bodies of relatively 

 warm water, and the seasonal extremes of heat and cold are reduced. 

 This influence of adjacent water bodies is especially pronounced in 

 the narrow lower extremity of Northampton County, where tide- 

 water is nowhere at a greater distance than 3 or 4 miles from the 

 farms farthest inland. Consequently the growing season is appreciably 

 longer from the vicinity of Eastville southward, than in the more 

 northern part of the section. The same influence is noticed with 

 respect to farms situated along the coast lines of both counties as 

 contrasted with those lying in the interior. 



Some localization of truck-crop production and certain differences 

 in farm practice result from these local differences in climatic con- 

 ditions. 



