50 BULLETIN 1005, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sassafras sandy loam. — The surface soil of the Sassafras sandy 

 loam, to a depth ranging from 8 to 15 inches, is a brown to grayish- 

 brown medium sandy loam. The average depth of the surface soil 

 in the Onley area is about 8 or 9 inches. It is slightly greater on level 

 areas or on gentle slopes and somewhat less on the crests of low ridges. 

 In the latter position the color is likely to be a pale yellowish brown 

 and the soil in this situation contains a somewhat larger proportion of 

 medium to rather coarse sand. Elsewhere the surface soil is some- 

 what loamy. The subsoil from about 9 inches in depth to 30 inches 

 is a sticky reddish-brown sandy loam, containing a moderate amount 

 of medium and fine sand and a rather high percentage of silt, together 

 with some clay. It is retentive of moisture and of fertilizers. The 

 deep subsoil from 30 inches to several feet in depth consists of an 

 orange to reddish-brown loamy sand which sometimes contains a 

 considerable quantity of fine gravel. 



This important soil type occupies the higher elevations consisting 

 of broad, low ridges, well-drained tracts of level land, and the partic- 

 ularly well-drained banks of streams which have cut below the level 

 of the surrounding land. The texture of the soil, the presence of the 

 sandy underlying layer, and the favorable location of the type have 

 given rise to good natural drainage conditions. The reddish-brown 

 to orange color of the subsoil furnishes a good indication that drainage 

 has been and is excellent. The weathering of the included iron- 

 bearing minerals has proceeded to an advanced stage and the material 

 shows good aeration and drainage from the surface to a depth of 

 more than 3 feet. 



There are few or no slopes within the limits of the type which 

 would interfere with cultivation, and erosion is not a problem on 

 the Sassafras sandy loam either in the Onley area or anywhere within 

 the borders of the Eastern Shore of Virginia counties. A slight 

 amount of shifting of surface materials under wind action occurs 

 over the highest crests of some of the low ridges unless they are well 

 protected by vegetation, either growing crops or stalks. The effect 

 of such movement is relatively unimportant. 



The Sassafras sandy loam is the best drained, earliest, and warmest 

 soil type suited to agricultural uses within the region. It is sought 

 as the most desirable arable land, and the greater part of its area 

 has been cleared and placed under cultivation. The chief excep- 

 tions consist of small forested areas and farm woodlots reserved 

 for domestic use. In the Onley area 76.7 per cent of the Sassafras 

 sand loam is occupied for some form of farm use, and only 23.3 

 per cent remains in forest. This proportion is about typical of the 

 region as a whole. 



Keyport sandy loam. — The surface soil of the Keyport sandy loam, 

 to an average depth of 9 inches and ranging in depth to 12 inches, is 



