JEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, . BUREAU OF SOILS—MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. ‘WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ‘AM, COMMISSIONER; B. W, KILGORE, STATE CHEMIST, AND »..ECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION; Cc. B. WILLIAMS, AGRONOMIST. | SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. J BY = W. B. COBB, In Cuarcz, anv E. S. VANATTA, or tue U. S. < . DeparTrMEent OF AGRICULTURE, AND L. L. BRINKLEY, S. F. DAVIDSON, anv F. N. McDOWELL, oF THe Nortu CarOLINnA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. + W. EDWARD HEARN, Inspector, SouTHern Division. [ Advance Sheets—Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1917.] WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOE, 1919. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS—MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. 'N COOPERATION WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, W. A. GRAHAM, COMMISSIONER; B. W. KILGORE, STATE CHEMIST, AND DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION; Cc. B. WILLIAMS, AGRONOMIST. SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. BY 'W. B. COBB, In Cuarce, anv E. S. VANATTA, or THE U. S. Derdrrment or AGRICULTURE, AND L. L. BRINKLEY, S. F. DAVIDSON, anv F. N. McDOWELL, or tux Nortu CaroLina DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. W. EDWARD IEARN, Insrecror, SouTHERN Division. [ Advance Sheets—Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1917.] Witirsscss> WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOE. 1919 BUREAU OF SOILS. Minton WHITNEY, Chief of Bureau. AxuBert G. Rice, Chief Clerk. SOIL SURVEY. Curtis F. Marsut, In Charge. G. W. Baumann, Executive Assistant. COMMITTEE ON THE CORRELATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS, Curtis F, Magsut, Chairman. Hue H. Bennett, Inspector, Southern Division. W. Epwarp Hearn, Inspector, Southern Division. Tuomas D. Rice, Inspector, Northern Division. W. E. McLenpon, Inspector, Northern Division. Macy H. Laruam, Inspector, Western Division. J. W. McKericuer, Secretary. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Bureau oF SoIzs, Washington, D. C., March 8, 1919. Str: I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript report and map covering the survey of Beaufort County, N. C., and to recommend that they be published as advance sheets of Field Opera- tions of the Bureau of Soils, 1917, as authorized by law. This work was done in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Respectfully, MILTON Wurtner, Chief of Bureau. Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. ee SS BRL eee AS SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CONTENTS. CAROLINA. By W. B. COBB, In Charge, and E. S. VANATTA, of the United States Department Page Of Agriculture, and L. L. BRINKLEY, S. F. DAVIDSON, and F. N. McDOWELL, Sor Survey or Beauvrort County, Nortu Carouina. By W. B. Coss, of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.—Area Inspected by W. EDWARD In Cuareg, and E. S. Vanarta, oF THE UNITED States DEPARTMENT OF HEARN. AGRICULTURE, and L. L. Brinxuey, S. F. Davipson, and F. N. McDows tt, or tHe Nortu CaroLina DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE._ 409 Description of the area Climate DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. Beaufort County is in the eastern part of North Carolina. It is bounded on the north by Martin and Washington Counties, on the east by Hyde County, on the south by Pamlico and Craven Counties, and on the west by Pitt County. Washington, the county seat, is Norfolk fine sandy loam Ae about 100 miles east of Raleigh and about 110 miles southwest of Norfolk very fine sandy loam Norfolk Va, , Va. Ruston sandy loam ‘ j 5 s A in, Dunbar very fine sandy loam The county is very irregular in shape, the boundaries being formed Coxville very fine sandy loam in part by streams and embayments. Its length is approximately Coxville silt loam 40 miles from east to west, and its greatest width is about 33 miles. Bladen fine sandy loam The land area of the county is 840 square miles, or 537,600 acres. Peder cry diiolesndy, oer Beaufort County is located on the lower Bladen loom lying marine terraces of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, or in what is commonly Portsmouth fine sandy loam known as the ‘‘flatwoods region.’”’ It is Portsmouth loam divided in two parts by the Pamlico River, a wide tide-water stream or estuary with irregular shore lines. Fig. 10.— Sketch map showing loca- The surface of the county is low and _ tint the Beaufort County ares, generally level, with undulating or gently rolling areas near the streams in the western part. The surface geological formations! are the Wicomico formation, which occurs in the southwestern part of Chocowinity Township and represents the most elevated part of the county; the Chowan formation, occurr- ILLUSTRATIONS. ing at a slightly ieee level and extending throughout the greater part of the western half of the county; and the Pamlico formation, Occupying the eastern half of the county and the low-lying country Page. @long the Pamlico River and Tranters Creek. The Wicomico and Chowan terrace areas consist of bodies of table- land, along the edges of which the tributaries of the larger streams have their source, with slightly undulating areas along these small streams and steeper slopes as the small tributaries converge, forming the branches and creeks that flow into the Pamlico River. In some FIGURE. Fic. 1. Sketch map showing location of the Beaufort County area, North Carolina Soil map, Beaufort County sheet, North Carolina. 2 TheCoastal Plain of North Carolina. By Wm. Bullock Clark, Benjamin L. Miller, L. W. Stephenson, B.L. Johnson, and Horatio N. Parker. North Carolina Geologicaland Economic Survey. 409 REPENS as ABS SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 411 410 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. d Goose, Broad, and Tranters Creeks, which flow into Pamlico River places along the south side of the Pamlico River points of the uplan terminate in low bluffs at the edge of the water, and the small streams have cut rather deep channels, forming comparatively steep valley slopes. The larger level areas in the western part of the county occur as swamps, or pocosons, having a relatively high elevation. The most important of these are Great Swamp and Dismal Swamp, to from the north; and Goose Creek, which forms part of the east county boundary, and South, Durham, Blount, ‘and Chocowinity Creeks, which enter the Pamlico from the south. The streams are compara- tively short and sluggish. The rivers and lower parts of the creeks are broad and have channels sufficiently deep to accommodate boats of varying sizes. Tide water reaches as far west as Washington and well up into most of the creeks. the west and east of Pinetown in the north-central part of the county, and Big Pocoson, in the southern part of Chocowinity Township. The two former extend into Washington and Martin Counties, on the north, while Big Pocoson extends into Craven County, on the south. The topography of the Pamlico terrace in the eastern part of the Along the rivers and some of the small streams there are some undulating areas, but in many places the In a number of instances county is practically level. surface is flat to the edge of -the water. the streams are bordered by areas of tidal marsh or swamp but ve little lower than the adjacent upland. In other instances, however, there are intermittent strips of higher, usually sandy soil between the level upland and the water. The bottom lands of the county are represented by narrow swampy strips along the upper parts of the streams. These occur chiefly in the western half of the county. The slope of the northern part ofthe county is in the same general direction as the course of the Pamlico River. The highest point in the county north of the Pamlico River is at Woolard Crossroads, in the northwestern part near the Martin County line, where the eleva- tion is 61 feet above sea level. The slope from that point eastward is more gradual than westward toward Tranters Creek and southward to the Pamlico River. The elevation along Tranters Creek and at Washington is about 10 feet, while the elevation of the extreme eastern part of the county, in the vicinity of Belhaven and Leechville, varies from 2 or 3 to 5 feet above sea level. slope is chiefly eastward, except in the extreme western part of the area, where it is northward toward the river. The range in elevation is approximately the same as on the north side of the river. The ‘highest point, which occurs about 3 miles north of the Craven County line on the Vanceboro Road, is 67 feet above sea level, according to a United States Geological Survey bench mark. The. drainage of Beaufort County as a whole is poor. Near the streams, especially in the western part of the county, there are strips of well-drained land, but back a few hundred feet or sometimes a few feet from the stream the country is flat and the drainage poor. The drainage of the county is effected by the Pamlico River and its tributaries, the most important of which are the Pungo River, which forms a part of the eastern boundary of the county; Pantego and Pungo Creeks, tributaries of the Pungo River; North, Bath, Upper sary for farmers to resort to artificial drainage. dug by hand on practically every farm, and in some sections, such South of the river the In general the county is so low and so nearly level that it is neces- Small ditches are as East Dismal, Pantego, and Jackson Swamps, important drainage districts have been established and large canals, to which smaller lat- erals are directed, have been dredged. Other such drainage districts are projected. Beaufort County was formed from Bath County in 1741. Thewhite population is largely of English and Scotch descent. In the 1910 census the total population is reported as 30,877, of which 70.6 per cent is classed as rural. The density of the rural population is given as 26 persons per square mile. About 42 per cent of the population consists of negroes. ! Washington, the county seat, is located in the western part of the county. Its population is given in the 1910 census as 6,211. Bel- haven, the next largest town in the county, is located on the Pantego River in the northeastern part of the county. Its population is re- ported as 2,863. The population of the other towns and shipping points ranges below 500. Aurora, Pinetown, Pantego, Bath, Leech- ville, Edward, Chocowinity, and Blount Creek are towns of local im- portance, Terra Ceia, a new town in the recently developed East Dismal Swamp drainage district, is an important point for the ship- ping of corn. The transportation facilities of Beaufort County are good. The main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway passes through Washing- ton, which is about midway between Raleigh and Norfolk. A branch line reaches south to Belhaven, and another connects Pine- town and Bishops Cross. Another branch of the Norfolk Southern connects Chocowinity with Newbern, in Craven County. The Atlantic Coast Line crosses the northwestern part of the county, and a branch of this railroad connects Washington with Vande- mere in Pamlico County, traversing that part of Beaufort County south of the Pamlico River. ‘Thus nearly every part of the county is within easy hauling distance of some railroad shipping point. In addition to the rail facilities, the county has good water transportation. Freight and passenger boats operate on the Pamlico 412 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. and Pungo Rivers, and a number of the towns are situated on navi- gable creeks. The dirt roads of the county are good during the greater part of the year, but usually are in bad condition during the winter months. Considerable interest is being taken in road improvement. ‘The grading and straightening of roads is in progress throughout the county, and in most townships cross roads and forks are well marked with sign posts. Rural mail delivery reaches all parts of the county. Telephone service is in use in some sections. School facilities in the towns and in a number of the rural districts are good. Norfolk is the principal outside market, handling most of the corn, potatoes, and live stock shipped from thé county. The cotton crop is largely marketed in Wilmington and Norfolk. Tobacco is mar- keted at warehouses in Washington. CLIMATE, The climate of Beaufort County is mild throughout the year. According to the records of the Weather Bureau station at Belhaven, in the northeastern part of the county, the mean annual temperature is 62° F. The winters are generally mild, the average temperature for December, January, and February being 45.3° F. There are usually three or four cold periods during the winter when the tem- perature falls as low as 15° or 20° F., and a temperature as low as 11° F. has been recorded in February. However, such low tem- peratures are unusual. Occasional light snows fall in the winter, but they are so slight as to be of little importance. The summer months have an average temperature of 78.5° F. Since the Weather Bureau station was established at Belhaven a maximum temperature of 102° F. has been reached, in July. The growing season in Beaufort County is comparatively long. The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 1, and that of the first in the fall October 31, making the average grow- ing season approximately seven months in length. Frosts have been recorded as late in the spring as April 26, and as early in the fall as October 11. The average annual rainfall is 47.98 inches. The total precipi- tation for the driest year on record (1911) was 32.49 inches, and for the wettest year (1910), 74.74 inches. The greater part of the rain comes during the summer months, the average for June, Jully, and August being 19 inches. The rainfall for the rest of the year is rather evenly distributed. The winter rains are lighter and occur more frequently than the summer rains. In the spring and summer there are, occasionally, short periods of drought in which crops suffer. These periods are sometimes followed by excessive rains SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 413 which do considerable damage to crops grown under imperfect drain- age conditions. Occasional hail storms visit the county, but they are usually con- fined to small areas, and the damage to crops from this source is comparatively slight. The following table gives the normal and extreme monthly, sea- sonal, and annual temperature and precipitation as recorded at Belhaven: Normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and precipitation at Belhaven. Temperature. Precipitation. Total amount for the driest year (1911). Total amount for the wettest year (1910). Absolute Absolute maximum. | mi minim jum. Inches. 3.40 1.94 4.79 Inches. 2. 85 2.65 1.15 6.65 10.13 1.66 2.84 AGRICULTURE. Beaufort County was settled about 200 years ago, at which time the agriculture consisted chiefly in the growing of corn, wheat, and oats and the raising of live stock, principally for home consump- tion. Subsequently cotton was introduced and became one of the most important crops. In 1879, according to the 1880 census, corn was the leading crop in the county in point of acreage, being grown on somewhat more than 20,000 acres. Cotton was second in area, with about 12,000 acres. Sweet potatoes were grown on about 1,700 acres, oats on about 1,400, rice on about 1,000, and wheat on less 4320369 O—41——2 UTD ~-- = LALA ESSENSE ea IR CCAD RRS 2s Abts VAR SADA ahi Sea Oa SI cha a ah RAE 414 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. than 400 acres. In the 1890 census corn is reported on about the same acreage, while the acreage devoted to cotton had increased to about 16,000 acres, the oat acreage had nearly doubled, and the growing of sweet potatoes and rice had increased. The acreage devoted to wheat had been reduced considerably. By 1900 the corn acreage had increased to about 26,000 acres, while the cotton acreage had declined. The acreage in oats was slightly decreased, the crop being reported on about 2,000 acres. Rice occupied about the same acreage as in 1889, while the acreage in sweet potatoes increased somewhat. Tobacco, Irish potatoes, cow- peas, and peanuts had become important crops, and hay and forage crops occupied a combined area of nearly 2,000 acres. In the 1900 census the value of live stock and live-stock products is given as $188,684. In the 1910 census corn is reported on about 26,000 acres, with a yield of 531,000 bushels, and cotton on 15,000 acres, with a produc- tion of 9,000 bales. Hay and forage cropsoccupied a total of approxi- mately 4,500 acres, 3,900 acres of which were devoted to grains cut green. Somewhat less than 1,000 acres were in oats, about 1,100 acres in peanuts, and 1,800 acres in cowpeas. Sweet potatoes are reported on about 2,800 acres, and Irish potatoes on 1,200 acres. About 1,700 acres were in tobacco. A total of 16,700 apple trees and 15,500 peach trees is reported, and nearly 3,000 grape vines. The same report states the number of farm animals sold or slaughtered as 106 calves, 1,856 other cattle, 18,492 hogs, and 501 sheep. There were in this year 2,432 dairy cowsonfarms. The following table gives the value of farm products of the county as given in the 1910 census: Value of all products arranged by classes. $405, 628 Other grains and seeds. 46, 861 Ha vigndlOrapessn. ssncss ce ces esie ce eee Eee ie satan cna na cee ee eaters 70, 141 Vegetables 239, 289 Fruits and nuts 25, 118 All other crops (chiefly cotton and tobacco) 1, 050, 075 Live stock and products: Animals sold or slaughtered 202, 638 Dairy products, excluding home use Poultry and eggs Wool, mohair, and goat hair 2, 148, 988 Since the last census was taken Beaufort County has undergone considerable agricultural development. New land has been opened up and the acreage of a number of crops has been considerably in- creased. About 35,000 acres are now devoted to corn.1 The cotton acreage probably is less than it was in 1910, while Irish potatoes have Total value 1 Estimates of the acreage of different crops were obtained from the county agent, Mr. J. F. Latham. ce ee ee SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 415 become one of the important cash crops, the estimated present acre- age being 4,500. Soy beans have been grown in the county in a small way for about 30 years, but not extensively until recently. They now practically have taken the place of cowpeas and occupy an estimated acreage of about 8,000 or 9,000 acres. The area in tobacco has been increased to about 3,500 acres and the growing of sweet potatoes and peanuts is steadily increasing. The agriculture of Beaufort County consists mainly of general farm- ing, although in the vicinity of Terra Ceia, and in other parts of the county on swampy soils there are many farms devoted almost ex- clusively to the production of corn, while many of the farmers in the county, especially in the vicinity of Aurora, make a specialty of potatoes. The main cash crops are cotton, tobacco, corn, soy beans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Corn and soy beans are also used as feed crops for the work stock and other farm animals. The principal other crops used for this purpose are peanuts, oats, part cut for hay, clover, and orchard grass. About 140 acres of wheat were planted in the county in the fall of 1916, and a number of the farmers are planning to grow wheat in the fall of 1917. Wheat should be- come a more important crop. A modern flour mill is located at Washington. ; More or less corn is grown on every farm. The majority of the farmers grow it for home use, but a number produce it for outside markets. Soy beans are grown principally for seed, which is sold to farmers throughout the State of North Carolina and to a small extent in adjacent States. Some of the crop is shipped to a mill in Elizabeth City, where it is made into oil and bean meal. That part of the crop not sold or saved for seed is fed to livestock on the farm. A part of the crop is cut for hay. Soy beans and cowpeas frequently are planted together for this purpose. Most of the potatoes and sweet potatoes produced in the county are sold to buyers from Norfolk. A part of the crop is consumed on the farm or sold at local markets. The cotton produced in the county goes principally to Norfolk, although some of it is sold in Wilmington. Tobacco is disposed of at the local markets in Wash- ington. A part of the peanut crop is shipped out of the county, and a part is used for hog pasture, the hogs being fattened on the peanuts and finished on corn. The oat crop is used chiefly for feeding work stock on the farms, the greater part of it being cut green for hay. The other hay crops consist principally of redtop, orchard grass, red clover, and alsike clover. These, however, are not grown very extensively, and the entire production is consumed on the farms of the county. Some Sudan grassisgrown. The growing of winter cover crops 1s Increasing. 416 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1911. SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 417 English peas, onions, radishes, string beans, lima beans, cabbage, subsequent burnings and the rotting of logs and stumps, the ‘‘stick- collards, watermelons, and cantaloupes are grown on nearly every ing” of corn is abandoned and cultivation is resorted to. farm for home use, and sometimes for local markets. Tomatoes, The equipment of the different farms varies considerably. Most strawberries, and cucumbers also are grown. Home demonstration of the farm houses are good-sized, comfortable buildings. There are work is actively carried on in the county, and members of the girls’ a number of very attractive farm houses in the county. Owing to clubs can vegetables and fruits for use at home and for sale. the mildness of the winters the barns are not so carefully constructed Very few horses and mules are produced for market. Cattle are as the houses. Nearly every farm is well stocked with modern farm well distributed over the county, being most numerous near the implements, including planters and cultivators. The work stock is swamps and large uncultivated areas. They are fed to some extent generally of medium weight. The cattle and hogs are mainly grades. in the winter, but subsist mainly by grazing. There is no stoek law Some attention is being given to improving the live stock on the over most of the county, the cattle being allowed to graze on thefarms. By passing a stock Jaw and establishing a larger number of open range. Cattle that are marketed are grazed throughout the dipping vats the outlook for the cattle industry probably would be spring and summer and sold to buyers from Norfolk and Richmond greatly improved. in the fall. A number of the farmers feed small quantities of grain No definite crop rotation is practiced by the farmers of the county. shortly before the cattle are sold. Dairying is practiced to a limited On some farms corn is rotated with cotton, cowpeas or soy beans extent, and only to supply local markets. being planted in the corn. Occasionally tobacco follows corn and Hogs are generally grazed the greater part of the year, but are frequently sweet potatoes follow Irish potatoes. finished on peanuts, cowpeas, soy beans, and grain before being sold The 1910 census reports a total expenditure of $139,754 for fer- to buyers in the fall and winter. Large numbers are shipped to tilizer, 1,828 farms reporting its use. At that time complete fertilizers Norfolk, while others are slaughtered for home consumption and the were used on most of the crops, but recently very little potash has local markets. Hogs are most extensively raised along the Pungo been available. On some of the more productive soils little com- River northeast of Belhaven, although they are well scattered over mercial fertilizer is used until the land has been cropped several the county. years. The general practice is to fertilize according to the crop and Sheep and goats are raised for wool and hair, and are slaughtered not according to the soil. The principal fertilizers used in the for home use and for sale at the local markets. They are largely county at present are acid phosphate and cottonseed meal. Nitrate confined to the central part of the county north of the Pamlico of soda is used on cotton. For corn from 300 to 500 pounds of acid River. Poultry is raised on every farm and generally constitutes phosphate and half as much cottonseed meal per acre is used on an important source of the farm income. the lighter colored soils, while the mixture for the darker soils con- The topography and soil, to a small extent, influence the charac- tains less of the meal. Cotton receives very much the same treat- ter of the crops grown. Potatoes usually are grown on light-textured ment, with sometimes an addition of fish scrap. Nitrate of soda is soils, which are naturally or artificially well drained, the Bladen types being considered the best soils for this crop. Tobacco gives best results when grown on well-drained soils, and is generally found on types of the Norfolk, Dunbar, and Ruston series. Low-lying, dark-colored soils, rich in organic matter, such as the Portsmouth, Hyde, and Bladen soils and Muck are considered best for corn. The better farmers in the county use two-horse plows and riding cultivators and thoroughly prepare the seed bed before planting. The operators of smaller farms use one-horse implements. Tractors have been used only experimentally. About 10 per cent of the land is plowed in the fall. Swamp land is generally prepared for culti- vation by cutting and burning the timber. Corn is the first crop planted on such new land, the seeds being planted in a hole made in the unplowed land .by means of a sharpened stake. It is not cultivated the first year. As the land gradually becomes cleared by sometimes substituted for the cottonseed :xoal. The mixture applied to cotton usually will analyze about 4—-6-1.!_ Soy beans are generally fertilized with 300 to 500 pounds of acid phosphate, except where the crop is planted in corn when no fertilizer is used. Where the land seems inclined to be acid it is limed. Tobacco land generally receives an application of about 1,000 pounds of fertilizer per acre. An 8-3-3 mixture was extensively used. Recently wood ashes have largely been used to supply potash. Potatoes receive from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of a 5-8-0 mixture. When potash was available a 5-7-8 fertilizer was considered best for this crop. A large part of the farm labor is performed by the farmer and his family. Farm laborers are drawn from both white and negro races, and are generally paid 75 cents to $1 a day. The higher rate is 1 Per cent of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, respectively. 418 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. without board. For planting and harvesting corn in newly opened drainage districts laborers receive from $1.50 to $2.50 a day. The greater part of this work is performed by negro labor, and both men and women are employed. Laborers hired for long periods are paid from $15 to $20 a month with board. In the 1910 census 1,448 farms report the employment of labor, with a total expenditure of $231,522. The farms vary in size from 20 or 30 acres to 1,000 acres or more. The average size is about 85 acres. The 1910 census reports a total of 2,951 farms in the county, comprising 46.3 per cent of the total land area. Of the land in farms 28.3 per cent, or about 24 acres per farm, is reported improved. About 70 per cent of the farms are operated by the owners and practically all the remainder by tenants. The ratio between farms operated by owners and by tenants has changed very little during the last 40 or 50 years. Very little land is rented for cash. There are two prevailing systems of share renting. Under one system the land owner furnishes the land, the seed, work stock, and implements and receives one-half the crop; under the other the tenant furnishes everything but the land, and the owner receives one-third the crop. The range in the selling price of land varies from $20 an acre for unimproved, forested land to about $250 an acre for well-located, The The improved farm land especially adapted to corn and potatoes. prevailing price for average farm land is about $50 an acre. average assessed value is given in the census of 1910 as $15.91 an acre. SOILS. Beaufort County lies within the Coastal Plain soil province, and the soils are derived from unconsolidated sands and clays of sedi- mentary origin composed of materials brought downfrom the Piedmont Plateau and Appalachian Mountain regions and deposited on the sea floor in ancient times. These sediments since their elevation above water have been more or less modified by drainage, oxidation, erosion, the decay of plants, and, in isolated instances, by wind action. The percolating rain water has carried much of the finer material down from the surface, and this, together with the action of streams and erosion, has resulted in the subsoils having a generally heavier texture than the surface soils. The red and yellow colors in many of the soils are due largely to the oxidation of the iron-bearing minerals contained in the soil. The dark-gray and black colors are the result of the decay of varying quantities of organic matter. The mottling in some of the subsoils is due largely to imperfect drainage conditions, the. subsoil being saturated at such frequent intervals 1The census tabulates each tenancy as a farm. SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 419 that the iron-bearing minerals in the soil have been only partly oxidized. The elevation and drainage in different parts of the county have caused considerable difference in the soils. All of these factors acting upon the original material have pro- duced a number of different soils and varied soil conditions. The soils are grouped broadly into soil series, the soils of each series being similar in origin, color of the surface soil, color and structure of the subsoil, and in topography and drainage. The soil series is divided into soil types on the basis of texture. Seven soil series including 15 soil types are recognized in Beaufort County. In addi- tion to these normal soils three miscellaneous types, Muck, Swamp, and Tidal marsh, are mapped. bat : The surface soils of the Norfolk series are prevailingly gray. Di- rectly below the surface there is a lighter gray or yellowish-gray layer which passes into a yellow friable sandy clay or sand. These soils occupy undulating to slightly rolling uplands throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain. The series is represented in Beau- fort County by three types, the fine sand, fine sandy loam, and very fine sandy loam. The Ruston types have a grayish or brownish surface soil, and a yellowish-red, reddish-yellow, or dull-red, friable sandy clay subsoil, Occasionally the lower part of the subsoil is mottled slightly with gray or yellow. The subsoil is generally less friable in structure than the subsoil of the Norfolk series. One member of this series, the Ruston sandy loam, is mapped in Beaufort County. The Dunbar series is characterized by a gray surface soil, passing into a yellow, compact upper subsoil which below a depth of 15 to 20 inches is mottled with red and gray. The series is intermediate in position between the Norfolk and the Coxville series, being slightly less well drained than the former and better drained than the latter. The Dunbar very fine sandy loam is mapped. The Coxville series comprises dark-gray to nearly black soils, with subsoils ranging from mottled yellow and gray clay, tough or mod- erately friable in the upper part to plastic, compact clay of a mottled drab or gray, red, and yellow color in the lower part. The topo- graphy is prevailingly flat, with frequent sparsely timbered areas. Two types, the very fine sandy loam and silt loam, are mapped in Beaufort County. The soils of the Bladen series are characterized by gray or brownish to nearly black surface soils. The subsoils consist of mottled brown, yellow, and drab or bluish-gray, heavy, plastic clay. The series evi- dently is intermediate between Tidal marsh and the Coxville soils. It differs from the latter in not being so well drained and in the absence of red in the subsoil. Artificial dramage is neces- RT TENA TEs ASS a SGA a SA RN ASUS CRI 420 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. sary in most areas before the Bladen soils can be utilized for agri- culture. Four types, the fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam, and silt loam, are mapped in this county. The surface soils of the types included in the Portsmouth series are dark gray to black, and high in organic matter. The subsoils are light gray to mottled gray and yellow, and in the heavier types are always plastic, though usually carrying a noticeable quantity of sand. These soils occur in flat to slightly depressed, poorly drained situations, and require ditching before they can be used for agri- culture. The series is developed in the flatwoods or the low, seaward portion of the Coastal Plain. Scattered areas also are found in the poorly drained depressions of the higher Coastal Plain country. The Portsmouth series’ is represented in Beaufort County by the fine sand, fine sandy loam, and loam types. The surface soil of the Hyde series is characterized by its black color and high organic-matter content. Typically the soil is black and uniform to a depth of 3 feet or more, but in places it grades into a gray sandy clay. The Hyde series is developed in flat or slightly depressed, poorly drained areas and usually is forested with a heavy growth of hardwood. The soil is very productive, but artificial drainage is necessary before it can be used for crop production. The Hyde loam is mapped in this county. Large areas of Muck and smaller areas of Swamp and Tidal marsh bre mapped. Muck consists of dark-brown or black, well-rotted vegetable matter containing varying quantities of mineral material. It occurs in swampy areas. The areas mapped as Swamp are low- lying, wet or swampy areas composed of miscellaneous material, principally Muck or Peat, generally mixed with varying quantities of soil material washed from near-by slopes. Areas mapped as Swamp in Beaufort County are of little value for agriculture, but usually support a growth of merchantable timber. Tidal marsh consists of flat, grassy areas bordering streams, subject to inundation by tides. The surface material is' generally Peat, and the underlying material clay. Some marl occurs in the county in the vicinity of Terra Ceia and near Blount Pocoson and Gum Swamp. It occurs at depths varying from 3 to 6 feet or more, and does not materially influence the soil. It is dug and used on acid soils to a small extent. 4 SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 421 The following table gives the name and actual and relative extent of the several soil types mapped: Areas of different soils. Soil. Acres. | Percent. Soil. Acres. | Percent. Portsmouth loam 49; 216 ie = - 4.0 Savanna phase 2, 624 i Bladen loam 49,344 9.2 4, ae 3.6 Portsmouth fine sandy loam..| 37,312 2,240 ou 15, 360 2.9 Swamp phase 9, 408 5 Coxville very fine sandy loam.| 41, 152 7.7 || Hyde loam 15, 104 2.8 Coxville silt loam 39, 232 7.3 || Bladen fine sandy loam.......] 12,352 2.3 35, 648 Tidal marsh 8, 960 : ee 2,048 Shallow phase 1, 984 Ruston sandy loam. } Bladen very fine sandy loam‘] 32, 448 6.0 Norfolk very fine sandy loam.| 30, 848 5.7 28, 672 5.3 Dunbar very fine sandy loam.} 58, 304 10.8 || Portsmouth fine sand.........| 26,496 4.9 9.7 NORFOLK FINE SAND. The surface soil of the Norfolk fine sand is a gray or light-gray fine sand, 4 to 6 inches deep. The subsoil is a yellow or pale-yellow, rather loose fine sand which is generally uniform in color and structure to a depth of 3 feet or more, but frequently is pale yellowish gray below about 30 inches. Occasionally on the tops of knolls the surface soil is almost white, while in more heavily wooded, nearly level areas a larger content of vegetable matter gives the surface soil a dark-gray color. Northwest of Washington along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad a few comparatively small areas of Norfolk sand are included with the Norfolk fine sand, and about 2 miles southwest of Core Point there is a small area which has a light-gray or white subsoil. These variations from the typical Norfolk fine sand are not mapped sepa- rately because they are of small extent and differ very little in agricul- tural value from the main type. ; This type occurs most extensively along the north side of the Pamlico River and one of its tributaries, Tranters Creek, occupying amore or less continuous strip from about 2 miles south of the Martin County line on Tranters Creek to Pamlico Beach, near where the Pungo River joins the Pamlico. Probably the largest single area lies at Edward, on both sides of Durham Creek, but mainly on the east side along the Old Sandhill Road. Smaller areas and strips are mapped along the Vanceboro Road, along the road running north from Acre to the Washington County line, and around Pantego Swamp. The Norfolk fine sand occurs as undulating to slightly rolling sand hills and low ridges. It is well drained and in some cases excessively drained. The water-holding capacity of the soil depends largely 4320369 O—41——_3 422 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. upon the amount of organic matter present. In the vicinity of Washington about 60 per cent of the type is in cultivation, while only about 20 per cent of the outlying areas are tilled. Uncultivated areas are forested chiefly with second-growth pine and small red, post, and blackjack oak. Sourwood and dogwood are sometimes found on the type. A heavy growth of wire grass covers the area near Edward. Trucking is the most important type of agriculture, potatoes, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, and béans being the leading crops. The production of peanuts is developed to some extent, Some general farming is carried on, but corn and cotton yields usually are very low, although where large quantities of vegetable matter have been added to the soil and proper fertilization is practiced, the yields of these crops are high enough to make their production profit- able. Ordinarily corn yields from 10 to 20 bushels per acre, and cotton from one-fourth to one-half bale. Some tobacco is grown, but with less success than on the Norfolk fine sandy loam and very fine sandy loam. Cattle are grazed on the uncultivated areas, but the grass is rather sparse and the live-stock industry is not extensively developed. : Only the lightest farming implements are used in the cultivation of this soil. The fertilizers used on the Norfolk fine sandy loam and very fine sandy loam are applied. The land sells for $10 to $50 an acre, according to location and improvements, the higher priced land being in the vicinity of Wash- ington, which affords a ready market for truck crops. Improvement of the Norfolk fine sand can best be brought about by the growing and turning under of green-manure crops, which will increase the power of the soil to hold moisture and also make the application of commercial fertilizers more efficacious. NORFOLK FINE SANDY LOAM. The surface soil of the Norfolk fine sandy loam is a gray loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam, 4 to 6 inches deep, underlain by a yellow or pale grayish yellow loamy fine sand which continues to a depth of 12 to 18 inches, where it grades into a yellow, friable fine sandy clay. This typically continues to a depth of 3 feet or more without change, although in some instances below a depth of about 30 inches the sub- soil is yellow, mottled slightly with yellowish red or gray. The soil of forested areas is darker than in fields that have been cultivated for some time. Tn a few small areas, occurring generally as inclusions in larger typical areas, that part of the soil immediately below the surface few inchesis brown, thesubsoil being typical. Frequently along thesteeper slopes the subsoil is slightly reddish in color, but not red enough to SOIL SURVEY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 423 warrant classifying the areas with the Ruston soils. In other places along the Hee Ae between the Norfolk fine sandy loam and soils of the Dunbar and Coxville series the subsoil is heavier and more com- pact in structure than typical, and frequently it is slightly mottled with gray in the lower part. ; The. eae occurs me comparatively high land principally in the western end of the county, as better drained areas and strips along the Pamlico River front, and to a small extent along the Pungo River and the larger creeks in the eastern part of the county. It generally forms well-drained areas adjacent to streams, and is undulating to gently rolling in topography with occasional nearly level areas and some slight depressions. The drainage is good but not excessive. Although the total area of the Norfolk fine sandy loam in Beaufort County is comparatively small, it is one of the most important agri- cultural soils. Probably 75 per cent of it is in cultivation. Uncul- tivated areas are generally forested with pine, oak, dogwood, and some sweet gum. Some longleaf pine occurs on he type, although most of the forest of this kind has been cut. The crops most extensively grown on the Norfolk fine sandy loam are tobacco, cotton, and corn, while sweet potatoes, soy beans, canta- loupes, cucumbers and other vegetables are important. Peanuts do well on the type, and peach trees are found on nearly every farm. Some cattle and hogs are raised, but the live-stock industry is not im- portant. Tobacco probably is the most important crop. It yields from 700 to 1,500 pounds per acre. Cotton yields from one-half to 1 bale per acre, corn from 15 to 40 bushels, potatoes from 50 to 75 bar- rels, sweet potatoes about 150 bushels, soy beans from 15 to 40 bushels, and peanuts about 30 to 60 bushels per acre. : The Norfolk fine sandy loam is easily handled. It is generally broken in the spring with 1-horse, sometimes with 2-horse, turning plows, and cultivated after the crop is up with 1-horse implements. The quantity of fertilizer used considerably influences the yields of the different crops. The most heavily fertilized crops are potatoes and tobacco. Irish potatoes in the year the survey was made (1917) were generally receiving from 1,600 to 2,000 pounds per acre of a 5-8-0 mixture. When potash was available the popular formula was 5-7-8. Tobacco receives about 1,000 pounds of an 8-3-3 mixture. Tn many cases wood ashes are being used as the potash carrier. Corn generally yields best where fertilized with 300 to 400 pounds of acid phosphate and about 200 pounds of cottonseed meal. Cotton is gen- erally fertilized with 400 to 800 pounds of a mixture that averages about 4-6-1 and generally contains fish scrap and nitrate of soda. Lime is generally applied to the soil for soy beans, peanuts, and other leguminous crops. The rate of application usually is 2 tons per acre every two or four years. The selling price of the Norfolk fine sandy 424 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1917. loam ranges from $25 an acre for forested land to $125 for well-located, improved land. Experiments and analyses at the Edgecombe Test Farm by the North Carolina Department.of Agriculture indicate that on the aver- age a mixture containing about 7 per cent of available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent of nitrogen, and 5 per cent of potash, applied at the rate of 400 to 1,000 pounds per acre, is most effective for this type of soil, and best results were obtained where one-half the fertilizer was applied in the drill at the time of planting and the other half dis- tributed along the row about the 1st of July. Norfolk fine sandy loam, deep phase.—The deep phase of the Nor- folk fine sandy loam consists of a gray loamy fine sand, underlain at a depth of about 6 inches by a pale-yellow loamy fine sand which con- tinues to 18 to 30 inches without appreciable change. This is under- lain by a yellow, friable fine sandy clay to 3 feet or more. This phase of the Norfolk fine sandy loam differs from the typical principally in the depth at which the yellow fine sandy clay subsoil is encountered, but the surface soil is likely to be somewhat lighter in texture, as in the areas south of Core Point where it varies from a loamy fine sand to a fine sand. Areas of this phase occur principally north and west of Bonnerton, south of Core Point, and in a few localities back from Tranters Creek, northwest of Washington.