SOILS OP SOUTHERlSr ISTEW JERSEY AND THEIR USES. 13 



of these types Tvlien distributed among broader areas of less desirable 

 tj'pes have been sought out and cleared. Such areas are found in 

 many of the smaller clearings which are interspersed through the 

 forested area, and they constitute an excellent illustration of the in- 

 fluence exerted by the character of the soil upon the agricultural 

 occupation. 



It is not by chance that the intensive forms of truck and fruit 

 growing and the more extensive forms of staple cropping have been 

 developed upon these particular soils. Years of experience have 

 taught that soils of these groups constitute the safe foundation for 

 agriculture and that they excel all other soils of the region for staple 

 and special crop production. 



A comparison of the map showing the general distribution of soil 

 groups with that showing the tilled and forested land in southern 

 New Jersey will at once demonstrate this selective use of the soils 

 of the region. 



The specialization of agTicultural development within southern 

 New Jersey has not rested merely with the occupation of certain 

 general soil groups for farming purposes while others have remained 

 uncultivated. 



Among these chosen agricultural soils, experience has shown that 

 certain soils are most successfully used for certain crops and succes- 

 sions of crops, and there has arisen a segregation of cropping prac- 

 tices which follows to a rather marked degree the specific character- 

 istics of soils. 



One of the best examples of this selection of soils for specific uses 

 over a considerable. territory may be observed in Salem County, N. J., 

 and in adjacent portions of Cumberland County. 



To the north and east of Salem and extending nearly to Elmer, 

 quite to Shiloh, and almost to Bridgeton, N. J., is a large area of 

 heavy loam soil, locally termed a " clay " in some cases. This large 

 area of the Sassafras loam has long been the location of an excellent 

 system of general farming in which corn, wheat, and hay have occu- 

 pied the most prominent positions. In connection with these crops 

 dairying has been practiced. Yields of each of these crops decidedly 

 in excess of the average yields of the State or of the section are ob- 

 tained. Until recent years tliis form of agriculture was almost the 

 only one followed. The demand for certain special crops has lately 

 brought about some changes in the cropping system, introducing po- 

 tato growing and the production of tomatoes for the canning factory. 

 Both of these special crops are well suited to the land in question. 

 Few attempts are made to produce early market tomatoes, and in the 

 case of potatoes dependence is chiefly placed upon the size of the crop 

 rather than upon early maturity. Thus, even with increased special- 

 ization in cropping, careful attention is paid to the natural capabil- 

 ities of the soil of this section. 



