The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

Attention is paid 10 the production OF
snap beans on the Norfolk fine sand and
upon other soil types near Savannah.
The beans are planted the last week In
February and the first picking is made
the first week IN May. The beans are
marketed in three-peck baskets. which
bring from $3.50 10 g a basket for the
first shipments. Shipment is discontinued
when the price sinks below 81 basket,
since the cost OF basket, picking, and
freight amounts TO two-thirds that sum.
1t will thus be seen that on the best
early truck soil. the Norfolk fine sand.
several tntensively farmed truck crops
are already produced, though they are
planted only by a few progressive truck
growers and the total acreage Is limited.
In the case Of al these crops good profits
are secured. and the local adaptability
of the soil type TO the cultivation of early
Irish potatoes, snap beans. cucumbers,
and lettuce is fully demonstrated.
When consideration is given TO the uni
form success which has attended these
and other truck crops upon the Norfolk
fne sand in the other established truck
ing areas there can be no doubt as 70
its successful development as a truck
soil in the vicinity Of Savannah. Thou
sands OF acres Of the type-some cult
waited, some Wild land-exist % the east
north, and west Of the city within easy
access TO shipping facilities, both rail
and water.
Suited tO Growing Cabbage.
The Norfolk fine sand lcam is especially
suited TO the production OF winter and
early spring cabbage though this crop
Is not grown about Savannah. It's
adaptation 10 the crop is so we'll known
and so highly appreciated in other South
ern trucking areas that the type is in
such localities known as cabbage land. -
From $50 TO 23O crates Of cabbage, OF
100 pounds each, can be grown on an
acre Of Norfolk fine sandy loam and the
crates sell at s. for extra early 20 $3.50 for
the later crop. When a crop OF cabbage
has been sold, either a summer forage
crop, a late potato crop. or a crop OF
green peas or sugar corn for canning
purposes can be grown the same season.
IL such a rotation IS followed the land
is benefited. the fertilizer bill is reduced
through the production Of green manure
or stable manure from by-products, and
the cost Of the production OF the first
or truck crop is not infrequently paid
by the profits from the second crop-the
forage, seed. or canning crop.
Portsmouth Series Rich.
The Portsmouth series in characterized
by dark gray to black surface soils. un-
derlaid by yellow, gray, or notified yell
low and gray subsoils The dark, mucky
appearance Of the soils is due to an
accumulation OF partly decayed organic
matter during an earlier or existing
swampy condition. The series as a rule
Is rather poorly drained, and TO bring IL
frre q rf1ff "a
soil tile drains are necessary. The soils
Of the Portsmouth series may be con-
sidered as intermediate between the light
colored, well-drained Norfolk soils on the
one hand and the deep accumulations Of
organic material Of peat and swamp areas
on the other
The Portsmouth fine sand occupies the
nearly level but somewhat depressed
areas between the higher ridges and in
the central portions Of the fatter upland
sections. Ii is also found i'm the bays, "
draws. and partially established drainage
channels. This type grades into the Nor
folk fine sandy loan or the Norfolk fine
sand along the higher margins and into
other members Of the Portsmouth series
toward the central and lower portions
Of the poorly drained areas.
COIOred by Bad Drainage.
All the soils Of the Portsmouth series
owe their dark color and mucky charac-
teristics TO imperfect natural drainage,
either present or recently corrected The
continued luxuriant growth Of deciduous
trees, vines. and other underground has
supplied a large amount Of organic mat
ter. which has annually fallen upon moist
or water-sOaked soil. Instead OF com
plete destructive decomposition a partial
decay and partial preservation Of the
carbUniZed organic matter has ensued.
and the mingling Of this vegetable mat
ter with the hne sand and silt washed
or blown In from dryer uplands has re-
suited in the formation OF the soils OF
the Portsmouth series.
II is as a lettuce soil that the Ports
mouth fine sand can frequently be most
profitably used In the Northern mar
kets the head varieties are most in de-
mand The lettuce is grown as a win
ter or very early spring crop and where
a speciality Is made OF lettuce special
methods are employed 20 secure iynmunity
from severe frosts.
In some Of the Atlantic coast trucking
regions crops Of Big Boston lettuce have
been cut which yielded a gross return
Of $500 an acre and a handsome profit
even after deducting large bills for
manure. fertilizer, hand labor, and the
cost Of installing and maintaining the
frames
Among the other market garden and
truck crops suited 10 the Portsmouth
fine sand, beets. carrots. collards, and
Z eggplant may be enumerated.
Adapted 10 Celery.
In position the Portsmouth fine sandy
/ loan occupies the lowest depressions and
frequently the centers Of the bays" OF
swamps. In the immediate vicinity OF
Savannah many Of these swampy areas
/ have been artincialy drained as a sNni-
/ tary measure. and considerable areas OF
both the Portsmouth fine sandy loan and
( Portsmouth fine sand are already practi-
+ cally reclaimed. Small acreaEes are oc-
cupied by various market garden crops
/ cats, vetches, and some cowpeas.
For celery production no soil near
/ Savannah can equal the Portsmouth fine
I sandy loam, though profitable crops can
certainly be grown upon the Portsmouth
/ fine sand.
Because muck and peat soils and mucky
soils like the Portsmouth fine sand and
! Portsmouth fine sandy loan are capable
/ OF retaining considerable amounts OF
moisture, are usually cool. and are al
ways easily titled and banked up along
1 the rows. they have wisely been chosen
( by the best celery growers I'm the South
/ Atlantic States for the profitable produc-
/ tion Of this crop on an extensive scale
Grows Over Wide Range.
Celery is produced IN small quantities
in a large number Of States. under practi.
/ cally all Of the varied climatic condi-
/ tions Of the continental portion Of the
/ United States. The natural habitation OF
/ wild celery, however, is in swampy. peaty
/ localities, and cultivated celery is not
/ largely changed from this habit OF
! growth
For celery cultivation il Is necessary