SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 51 



a grayish-brown sandy loam. The coloration of a freshly plowed 

 field will vary from yellowish gray to gray and grayish brown, the 

 latter color predominating. The immediate subsoil is usually a 

 pale-yellow to grayish heavy sandy loam, in places faintly mottled 

 in gray and yellow colors. Below a depth of 24 inches the subsoil 

 is a mottled gray, yellow, and ocherous-brown sandy loam, which 

 passes at about 36 inches into a grayish-yellow loamy sand. 



The Keyport sandy loam is found over nearly level upland tracts 

 and along the lower parts of gentle slopes, commonly intervening 

 between more elevated areas occupied by the Sassafras sandy loam 

 and the depressions occupied by soils of the Elkton series. 



The texture of soil and subsoil is favorable to the establishment 

 of drainage, but the position of the type and its altitude give rise 

 to some accumulation of excess moisture by seepage from higher 

 lying areas, while outlets are not well enough established to permit 

 of the rapid removal of water at all seasons. The soil is moderately 

 well drained in its natural condition and is usually capable of com- 

 plete drainage with a minimum expense for ditching. Many crops 

 may be grown upon the larger areas of this type without artificial 

 drainage. For the earlier truck crops it should be ditched and 

 tiled. Erosion occurs rarely within the limits of this type. 



The Keyport sandy loam is a good general purpose soil and its 

 best drained areas are also well suited to the growing of Irish pota- 

 toes and cabbage. It has been extensively cleared and occupied 

 throughout these two Eastern Shore counties, and the survey of the 

 Onley area shows that 67 per cent of its extent is utilized for some 

 form of agricultural occupation, while only 33 per cent remains in 

 forest. This is possibly a little higher percentage in cultivation 

 than is common in the region. 



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

 consists of 8 or 9 inches of gray to brownish-gray sandy loam, which 

 appears pale gray to almost white when thoroughly dried out. It 

 is rather coherent and has a tendency to form clods when tilled in a 

 moist condition. The subsoil to a depth of 30 inches is a gray sandy 

 loam, mottled with yellow and ocherous stains. The main body 

 color is distinctly gray as distinguished from the prevailing yellow 

 of the Keyport sandy loam. Below 30 inches the deep subsoil is a 

 somewhat sticky gray sand, mottled with yellow. The deep subsoil 

 is frequently moist to saturated. 



The Elkton sandy loam occupies broad depressed areas having a 

 level to slightly sloping surface. The type is found around the 

 headwaters of streams and in small depressions within areas of the 

 Keyport and Sassafras sandy loams. It also includes some small 

 areas of more loamy material in small patches, usually less than an 

 acre in extent. 



