SOILS OF EASTKKN VlllGINIA. 63 
early to permit transplanting, and it is sufficiently well drained to 
produce a large yield of roots. 
It is evident that the growing of sweet potatoes has not become 
as well standardized in this district as that of Irish potatoes. The 
crop is somewhat subordinate in importance, although coming to be 
grown more extensively. It fits in well with the growing of Irish 
potatoes and helps to distribute the employment of labor through the 
year. It can be recommended as a crop thoroughly well suited to 
the Sassafras sandy loam and to the better drained areas of the 
Keyport sandy loam. 
Cahhage. — Only 22 answers were received with regard to the cab- 
bage crop. These represent 72 acres, or an average of 3^ acres for 
each grower. The acreage ranges from one-half acre to 12 acres 
each. The use of cover crops and manure is about the same as for 
potatoes. 
The cabbage crop is a winter and early spring crop in this region 
and the fertilizer practice is adjusted to the cool growing conditions 
of the early part of the winter season. Growers use two different 
formulae. The standard formula for application before transplanting, 
intended to carry the crop throughout the season, is almost uniformly 
the potato formula, 7-6-5. In addition, side dressings are made, 
during the colder months, of a mixture analyzing 10 per cent ammonia 
in some soluble form, 6 per cent phosphoric acid, and 5 per cent 
potash. The amount of fertilizer applied varies from 1,000 to 2,000 
pounds per acre, with the majority of growers using about 1,500 
pounds. Of this 1,000 pounds or more is of the 7-6-5 formula and 
500 pounds or less contain the larger amount of soluble anunonia. 
Fourteen growers, or 70 per cent, prefer a loamy soil for cabbage 
and 6 prefer a sandy loam soil. The yields reported range from 85 
to 200 one-barrel crates per acre with an average production of about 
150 barrels. 
The cabbage crop is not sufficiently represented in the Onley area 
to afford verification of these expressed soil preferences, but they are 
well in accord with the general practice in cabbage growing. 
Onions. — Sixteen growers report a total of 44 acres of onions. 
The individual areas range from 1 to 15 acres, the majority producing 
from 1 to 3 acres. The use of cover crops and manures preceding 
onions is general. The applications of fertilizer range from 500 to 
1,700 pounds per acre, with 1,000 to 1,200 pounds predominating. 
The potato formula, 7-6-5, is dominant, although in the absence of 
potash several growers report the use of 7-8-0 or 5-8-0. 
The reported yields range from 30 to 500 one-bushel crates, with 
an average of about 200 bushels per acre. 
The onion crop is scarcely represented in the Onley area. It is 
grown more extensively in the vicinity of Onancock, where both the 
