76 BULLETIN 677, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



produce good crops of corn, mixed hay, rye, wheat, oats, and cow- 

 peas. Apples and pears do well. 



Loam. — This class includes the best general farming soils in 

 southern New Jersey. Potatoes are the chief cash crop, with toma- 

 toes for canning becoming an important crop in some sections. 

 Corn, mixed hay, wheat, and oats produce their largest yields upon 

 soils of this group, particularly upon the Sassafras loam, which is 

 of greater extent and importance than any other single soil in the 

 region. Apples, pears, and cherries thrive at proper elevations. 



The fine sandy loam and loam soils rank together in their crop 

 adaptations in this general region. They form the basis for the 

 production of the general farm crops, for dairying, for the most 

 extensive production of potatoes, and of tomatoes for canning. 

 They produce the larger part of the forage crops and a considerable 

 preponderance of the potato crop in the southern part of the State. 



Corn, wheat, hay, potatoes, and dairy products are the chief com- 

 modities sold from them. 



Silt loami. — Represented by only one type of limited extent. On 

 this, hay and pasture are the chief form of agricultural production. 

 Cabbage and potatoes are grown to a limited extent. 



Clay. — Sparingly represented in southern New Jersey and usually 

 avoided for crop production. Hay and pasture are the chief uses. 



Tidal marsh. — Of considerable extent but sparingly utilized. 

 Chiefly in grass for pasturage or hay. Some small areas are tilled 

 to corn. Limited areas are devoted to tomatoes and cabbage. 



CONCLUSION. 



(1) The geographic location of the southern New Jersey region 

 is such that the largest markets for staple and special farm products 

 on the continent lie within easy reach of even the most remote 

 localities. (See fig. 2, p. 4.) 



(2) Transportation by steam railroad, by electric railroad, by im- 

 proved highways, and even by water routes is more completely es- 

 tablished than in the majority of comniunities in the country. (See 

 fig. 2.) 



(3) Agriculture has been established for a period of 275 years in 

 parts of the territory under discussion. It has been established over 

 the arable soils of practically all of southern New Jersey for a period 

 in excess of 200 years. 



(4) The region has sufficient rainfall during the year and during 

 the growing season for maturing all the most important staple and 

 special crops suited to the latitude. The growing season between 

 killing frosts is usually six months long. (See fig. 1, p. 3.) 



