Newark post., 1914-02-04
Soil Survey--Dela-
ware Advantages

gion' appears the following:
"In the absence Of detailed
soil surveys of the counties of
eastern Virginia and southern
Delaware, it is not possible to
give detailed statement Of the
unused but available trucking
lands Of the Virginia Maryland
Delaware Peninsula. Yet it is
known that not one acre in SO
available for vegetable and
small-fruit production is yet
utilized for growing these
crops. The soils are well
adapted to trucking, and the
climate is fairly favorable,
while the transportation facil-
tiles are excellent, and both the
time and distance Of the haul
to the great city markets are
small" "
In the report Of the Secretary o
Agriculture for 1913 this statemen
is made:
with the view of making
soil surveys more valuable to
the farmer, a new basis Of CO.
operation has been established
with the States through their
experiment stations, agricult-
ural colleges and agricultural
bureaus. Under this plan the
department will give prece-
dence in conducting detailed
soil surveys to those States
which cooperate with the de-
partment in the matter and
which request that such sur
veys be made. During the
past year 19 States have ap-
propriated money for soil sur
veys in cooperation with the
department. If the request
for soil surveys on the part Of
cooperating States absorbs all
the departments funds for
such work, no projects will be
undertaken i'll On-cO-Operatlve
States. 1t is believed that
where the soil surveys are made
at the special request of the
State agricultural agency and
in districts where the State is
actively engaged in extension
work, the State authorities will
be willing and able to help the
farmer to gain the greatest
possible benefit from the de-
partment's reports and soil
survey maps. -
The matter to which attention is
called in those two extracts IS OF
the utmost importance to the State
of Delaware. The excellent truck
raising qualities Of Delmarvia land
are well known to the people living
on the land. Every experiment
tried is only another demonstra-
ton of the fact that this land will
raise better truck than other lands
and the markets are even better
than in 1912.
1t is amazing, once you are re-
of it, that these detailed
soil surveys have never been made
These surveys would form the bas-
is for the most effective kind Of ad,
vertising. Remember the land and
the markets. Delmarvia land Is
the best, everything considered, III
the Atlantic coast region. AS good
as any other land or better, 1t IS al
50 nearer to markets and to the
great centers of population, which
latter, for social reasons, Is a great
advantage.
It is criminal for Delaware tt
hesitate a moment in offering the
national government that co-opera
ton which would result in the sur
vey being made. 1t has been dem
onstrated that Delaware soil is al
right and therefore we know be
forehand what the reports would
be to land values in the terrltor.
affected.
Think Of how these reports woul'
be used by the immigration Com
missioners and think how such ex
ploitation would attract agricult
rral settlers. This is not a nel
and undiscovered country. 1t
the land that made the peach fam
Gus. 1t is demonstrating that 1t
the best apple land in the worlc
A few years ago land which wa
considered worthless in the Selby
vile district it was found Woul
raise the best strawberries IN tn
world and now within year or tW
it was discovered that this san
land will raise the best cantaloup'
in the world. 1t only remains,
would appear, for somebody else
give anything which will grow ]
the temperate zone a fair trial IL
If TO be learned that the same Ian