SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 5*7 



which are slightly above. It is evident that, in the local judgment, 

 the Elkton sandy loam is not a good trucking soil except for straw- 

 berries and that it is not even highly esteemed for the growing of 

 forage crops. 



Elkton loam. — The Elkton loam is not typically occupied within 

 the limits of the Onley survey. The small areas found lie within the 

 limits of fields dominated by other soils and they are tilled in accord- 

 ance with the requirements of the more important types. Hence, 

 68.6 per cent of the area of the type is cropped, an entirely unusual 

 condition. Sweet potatoes are found on 29.4 per cent of its area, 

 although this soil is not usually considered a good one for the crop. 

 The presence of a rather high percentage of strawberries (PL XV, 

 fig. 2) and of a relatively large area of corn and hay is more nearly 

 in accordance with the local cropping practices on the Elkton loam. 

 Generally, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Elkton loam is rather 

 extensively forested and the cleared areas are most commonly used 

 for the growing of forage crops, especially such as can be planted 

 well along into the summer season when the type has had an oppor- 

 tunity to dry out. 



Portsmouth sandy loam. — The presence of forest on 93.1 per cent 

 of the area of the Portsmouth sandy loam is characteristic of the 

 region. Its adventitious use for the growing of hay, for pasture, and 

 for small areas of Irish and sweet potatoes is in accord with the 

 general treatment of the type elsewhere in the two Eastern Shore 

 counties. This soil is not commonly cleared and utilized except as 

 small areas of it occur within the limits of other soils better suited 

 -to the common cropping systems of the region. 



Viewed from the standpoint of individual crops, the soil facts 

 become even more striking. The following summary by crop areas 

 and percentages brings out this relationship : 



The Sassafras sandy loam comprises 774 acres or 43.6 per cent of the entire area 



of the survey. It carries the following acreages and percentages of leading crops: 



Per cent 

 Acres. of crop. 



Irish potatoes 236. 57. 6 



Sweet potatoes 173, 4 60. 3 



Strawberries 13. 2 22. 6 



Onions 10. 6 41. 4 



Miscellaneous vegetables 3. 6 90. 



The Keyport sandy loam occupies 477 acres or 26.9 per cent of the area. It carries 



the following acreages and percentages of leading crops: 



Per cent 

 Acres. of crop. 



Irish potatoes. 128. 31. 2 



Sweet potatoes 70.0 24.4 



Strawberries 20. 34. 2 



Onions.., 7.6 32.8 



Miscellaneous vegetables 0. 4 10. 



