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



potatoes; while the loam soils are preferred decidedly for cabbage 

 production. 



In comparing these districts with those farther to the north, it 

 should be held in mind that early marketing is a prime requisite for 

 both the Norfolk and the Eastern Shore districts, so that a somewhat 

 more sandy and early soil is desired for potato growing than in the 

 case of the New Jersey areas. Even in that district there is a strong 

 tendency to use the Sassafras sandy loam for growing Irish Cobblers 

 and heavier soils for other and later varieties. The same type is the 

 preferred Cobbler soil on the Eastern Shore, while fine sandy loams 

 are preferred and more extensively used for growing the crop in the 

 Norfolk district. 



These well-drained and warm soils seem to combine earliness of 

 maturity with moderate to high yields in the case of potatoes and 

 to be the very best soils for truck crop potato growing in the Middle 

 Atlantic Coast region. 



Potatoes. — Seventy-one growers of potatoes reported 2,242 acres 

 in this crop, or an average of 31.6 acres each. The most extensive 

 grower reports 175 acres; the smallest, 1 acre. The acreages in 

 the majority of cases are between 20 and 75 acres. 



The reported yields of potatoes range from 35 to 110 barrels per 

 acre, with the great majority of growers reporting 50 to 75 barrels. 

 Many report yields of 80 to 100 barrels, and yields as large as this 

 are undoubtedly obtained in numerous instances in both counties. 



In the management of the potato crop the great majority of 

 growers report the use of some winter cover crop on the land where 

 potatoes are to be grown. The most common crop is rye, alone, or 

 rye and crimson clover. Wheat also is used alone or with crimson 

 clover or winter vetch. Oats are similarly used in some cases. 



Stable manure is applied to potato ground, wherever obtainable, 

 the home supply of manure being augmented in most cases by 

 composting with pine needles, or "shatters," and with other forest 

 litter. This practice is common in the two counties and woods 

 refuse is so highly prized that nearly every farm retains a small 

 woodlot within which the annual crop of pine needles and other 

 refuse is carefully protected for use in composting with stable manure. 

 (See PI. XVII.) 



The use of commercial fertilizer at the time these inquiries were 

 made was greatly disturbed by war conditions, potash salts being 

 practically unprocurable. The farmers were therefore asked to 

 report the. usual practice and any existing variations. From replies 

 received it appears that the common formula for potato fertilizer is 

 7 per cent of ammonia, 6 per cent phosphoric acid, and 5 per cent 

 potash, and that with a shortage of potash the proportion of 



