68 
BULLETI^^ 1005, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OE AGRICULTURE. 
soils of the Portsmouth series somewhat to the south of the areas 
where the surveys were made, and that the crop is well suited to pro- 
duction on both the Portsmouth sandy loam and fine sandy loam, 
where these have been properly drained. Soils of the Keyport and 
Elkton series are also used for the production of the crop. 
In Table XVII the data for the three areas, relating to sweet 
potatoes, are combined to show soil-type occupancy. 
Table XVII. — Acreage of sireet potatoes, according to sT)il type, in the Churchland. 
Diamond Springs, and Onley areas, combined. 
Soil type. - 
Area 
planted. 
Propor- 
tion of 
type oc- 
cupied. 
Propor- 
tion of 
cropped 
area of 
the type. 
Propor- 
tion of 
total 
crop. 
Sassafras sandv loam ... 
Acres. 
173 4 
Per cent. 
22.4 
14.7 
8.2 
Per cent. 
32.8 
23.5 
26.1 
Per cent. 
54.9 
Keyport sandy loam 
70.0 
38.2 
22.1 
12.7 
The Sassafras sandy loam is clearly the preferred sweet-potato soil 
in this region. There is no doubt that the crop could also be grown 
successfulh' upon the coarse sandy loams, and would be were it not 
that these soils are desired for strawberry growing and the production 
of the winter crop of cabbage. Either one of these crops interferes 
with the growing of sweet potatoes and the truckers evidently prefer 
them to the moderate profits which may be obtained from sweet 
potato growing. 
Cabbage is grown rather indiscriminately upon the Norfolk coarse 
sandy loam, Keyport fine sandy loam, and Norfolk fine sandy loam, 
principally. The chief requirements seem to be a position sheltered 
against winter winds, fairly good drainage, and rather strong forcing 
by the use of fertilizers applied during the milder days of winter. 
The relationships of spinach and kale to the different soils have 
been shown in the discussion of the Churchland and Diamond Springs 
areas. No distinctively winter truck crops are grown within the 
limits of the Onley survey. 
GENERAL SUMMARY. 
There are two important trucking districts in eastern Virginia, 
the Norfolk and the Eastern Shore districts. 
The Norfolk district lies south of the James River and Chesapeake 
Bay. In this district from 50,000 to 60,000 acres of truck crops 
are grown annually. 
The Eastern Shore district comprises the greater part of Accomac 
and Northampton Counties, and 85,000 to 95,000 acres of truck 
crops are annually grown in it. 
