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



The natural drainage of the Elkton sandy loam is interrupted 

 and poor. Unless artificial drainage is resorted to, water stands 

 upon the surface during parts of the winter and spring months and 

 the type is slow to warm up in the spring even where some ditching 

 has been provided. It is capable of drainage at a moderate cost 

 over the larger areas, but some of the small depressions occupied 

 by this soil are so completely surrounded by areas of other types, 

 lying on low ridges, that the cutting of effective outlets to a sufficient 

 depth is rather expensive. Consequently the larger areas are more 

 frequently ditched than smaller areas, whose reclamation would 

 scarcely repay the expense. 



The texture of the soil is favorable to drainage operations and 

 only topographic difficulties interfere with its more complete occu- 

 pation. Drained areas of the type prove it to be a strong forage 

 crop soil, and that certain of the late truck crops may be grown to 

 advantage. The general condition of the type is well shown in the 

 Onley area, where 59.0 per cent of its area remains in forest, although 

 it is well located with respect to shipping facilities and there are no 

 insurmountable obstacles to its drainage. The type, here and else- 

 where on the eastern shore of Virginia, constitutes a valuable reserve 

 of land which may be brought under cultivation by the establish- 

 ment of community and farm drainage systems. 



Elkton loam. — The Elkton loam consists of 6 to 10 inches of gray 

 to light-brown silty loam, containing enough fine and medium sand 

 to render it granular. The subsoil, to a depth of 24 inches, is a 

 mottled gray and pale-yellow silty loam, rather compact and sticky. 

 The deep subsoil is a mottled gray and yellow sandy loam which is 

 usually moist and may be saturated. 



The type is found in the Onley area in a few snlall, saucer-shaped 

 depressions associated with the Elkton sandy loam and the Keyport 

 sandy loam. It marks an accumulation of silty earth and of organic 

 matter in the lowest parts of these depressions. It is poorly drained 

 and of limited extent and importance. It is usually tilled in con- 

 junction with other and better drained types and its uses in this 

 area are not at all characteristic of the type. Where possible, it 

 should be used for growing forage crops or late truck crops. Drainage 

 would greatly improve its condition and, wherever the area concerned 

 is large enough to justify the expense, should be supplied. 



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

 loam, to a depth ranging from 5 to 15 inches, is a dark-gray to black 

 sandy loam. A considerable quantity of partly decayed organic 

 matter is visibly present. The subsoil is a gray sandy loam, some- 

 times faintly mottled with yellow, rusty stains. At a depth of about 

 30 inches, a gray, sticky sand is found. It is usually saturated. 



