SOILS OV EASTERN VlIUilNIA. 51 
a grayish-brown sandy loam. The coloration of a freshly plowed 
field will vary from yellowish gray to gray and grayish brown, the 
latter color predominating. The immediate subsoil is usually a 
pale-yellow to grayish heavy sandy loam, in places faintly mottled 
in gray and yellow colors. Below a depth of 24 inches the subsoil 
is a mottled gray, yellow, and ocherous-brown sandy loam, which 
passes at about 36 inches into a grayish-yellow loamy sand. 
The Keyport sandy loam is found over nearly level upland tracts 
and along the lower parts of gentle slopes, commonly intervening 
between more elevated areas occupied by the Sassafras sandy loam 
and the depressions occupied by soils of the Elkton series. 
The texture of soil and subsoil is favorable to the establishment 
of drainage, but the position of the type and its altitude give rise 
to some accumulation of excess moisture by seepage from higher 
lying areas, while outlets are not well enough established to permit 
of the rapid removal of water at all seasons. The soil is moderately 
well drained in its natural condition and is usually capable of com- 
plete drainage with a minimum expense for ditching. Many crops 
may be grown upon the larger areas of this type without artificial 
drainage. For the earlier truck crops it should be ditched and 
tiled. Erosion occurs rarely within the limits of this type. 
The Keyport sandy loam is a good general purpose soil and its 
best drained areas are also well suited to the growing of Irish pota- 
toes and cabbage. It has been extensively cleared and occupied 
throughout these two Eastern Shore counties, and the survey of the 
Onley area shows that 67 per cent of its extent is utilized for some 
form of agricultural occupation, while only 33 per cent remains in 
forest. This is possibly a little higher percentage in cultivation 
than is common in the region. 
Elkton sandy loam. — The surface soil of the Elkton sandy loam 
consists of 8 or 9 inches of gray to brownish-gray sandy loam, which 
appears pale gray to almost white when thoroughly dried out. It 
is rather coherent and has a tendency to form clods when tilled in a 
moist condition. The subsoil to a depth of 30 inches is a gray sandy 
loam, mottled with yellow and ocherous stains. The main body 
color is distinctly gray as distinguished from the prevailing yellow 
of the Keyport sandy loam. Below 30 inches the deep subsoil is a 
somewhat sticky gray sand, mottled with yellow. The deep subsoil 
is frequently moist to saturated. 
The Elkton sandy loam occupies broad depressed areas having a 
level to slightly sloping surface. The type is found around the 
headwaters of streams and in small depressions within areas of the 
Keyport and Sassafras sandy loams. It also includes some small 
areas of more loamy material in small patches, usually less than an 
acre in extent. 
