SOILS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA. 69 



Both areas receive an adequate amount of precipitation ranging 

 from 40 to 50 inches a year. It is usually well distributed. The 

 Norfolk district has a growing season between killing frosts of 230 

 days. The southern portion of the Eastern Shore district has a 

 growing season of 210 to 220 days, while the remainder of the dis- 

 trict has a growing season of 185 to 210 days. Close proximity to 

 large bodies of tidewater results in favorable climatic conditions in 

 both districts. The Norfolk district constitutes the most northern 

 of the year-round trucking districts. 



Shipments of truck crops are made from each district to all of the 

 larger northern and northeastern cities and even to Canada. Both 

 rail and water transportation are employed. Shipments are largely 

 made through truckers' associations. 



The trucking business is chiefly carried on by native white farmers 

 with negro laborers. 



The entire region is marked by low relief, rising not more than 

 50 feet above tide level. There are no great irregularities of surface, 

 very little erosion, and the land is drained chiefly through deep-cut 

 estuaries and small upland streams. Broad undrained areas exist 

 upon the uplands between the more pronounced drainage ways. 



The soils of the region are derived from the unconsolidated deposits 

 of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and range in texture from sands and 

 coarse sandy loams to rather heavy loams. Sandy loams and fine 

 sandy loams predominate, constituting the chief areas used for 

 intensive agricultural occupation. The different soil series follow 

 natural drainage conditions rather closely in their distribution. 

 Soils of the Sassafras and Norfolk series are well drained and occupy 

 low ridges or areas near the main drainage ways. Soils of the Key- 

 port series are fairly well drained and are found on level or gently 

 sloping uplands. Soils of the Elkton and Suffolk series occupy 

 broad flat areas on the uplands more remote from established drain- 

 age and are found also in basin-shaped areas around stream heads. 

 Soils of the Portsmouth series, marked by surface accumulations 

 of dark-colored organic matter, occur in upland swamps and along 

 wet stream margins. Some areas have been artificially drained. 

 Tidal marsh and dunes and are not occupied agriculturally. 



Soil and crop maps were made of three areas. The Churchland 

 area, representing conditions between the Elizabeth and Nansemond 

 Rivers; the Diamond Springs area, representing those between 

 Elizabeth River and the Atlantic Ocean; and the Onley area, repre- 

 senting conditions in the central portion of the Eastern Shore of 

 Virginia. Both spring and fall crop maps were made to show the 

 year-round crop occupation of the different soils. 



