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



covering 113.4 acres; strawberries, 58.4 acres, and cowpeas, 41 

 acres, are the other important crops. It will be noted that the area 

 occupied by gardens and grounds is greater than the area given to 

 corn in the early summer months. 



The distinctive features of the area as a whole are found to be: 



1. The occupation of 55 per cent of the total area for cropping. 



2. The occupation of 80 per cent of the total cropped area by truck 

 crops, while the general farm crops cover but 20 per cent. 



3. The fact that Irish and sweet potatoes include 71.6 per cent of 

 the entire cropped area. 



These facts are closely representative of the general conditions in 

 Accomac County. The relative importance of sweet potatoes is 

 greater and that of Irish potatoes is somewhat less than in Northamp- 

 ton County. 



A comparison of the acreage figures for the different crops on the 

 individual soil types with those for the entire area provides a basis 

 for the study of the selective use of different soils for different crops. 



Sassafras sandy loam. — The Sassafras sandy loam bears annual 

 crops to the extent of 68.2 per cent of its area, compared with 55.7 per 

 cent for the entire area surveyed. Only 23.3 per cent remains in for- 

 est, compared with 36.8 per cent for the entire map. Irish potatoes 

 occupy 30.4 per cent and sweet potatoes 22.4 per cent of its area, com- 

 pared with 23.1 and 16.2 per cent for the total survey. Corn is also 

 slightly in excess of the standard, as are onions and pasture. Other 

 crops fall below the average. The type may thus be characterized as 

 a preferred trucking soil, especially desired for growing the two most 

 important crops of the region. (See PL XIII, figs. 1 and 2, and PL 

 XIV, fig. 1.) 



Keyport sandy loam.— The Keyport sandy loam bears annual crops 

 to the extent of 62.3 per cent of its area, or slightly in excess of the 

 standard. Irish potatoes occupy 26.8 per cent of its extent, a little 

 above the normal; sweet potatoes fall a little below, with 14.7 per cent, 

 as against 16.2 for all soils. Both the total area of truck crops and 

 that of forage crops slightly exceed the normal for the area at the 

 expense of forested lands and homestead areas. The type is evi- 

 dently considered to be rather more favorable for the growing of Irish 

 potatoes than of sweet potatoes. (See PL XIV, fig. 2, and PL XV, 

 fig. 1.) A slight preference is given strawberries also. 



Elkton sandy loam. — The Elkton sandy loam is distinguished by 

 the forest occupation of 59 per cent of its area, while 22.8 per cent 

 is given to truck crops and 8.5 per cent to general farm crops. All 

 of the truck crops fall below the normal percentage for the region 

 except strawberries, which cover 21.6 acres, or 4.6 per cent of its 

 extent compared with a standard percentage of 3.3. The forage 

 crops also fall below the normal, with the exception of cowpeas, 



