560 Grasses and Leguminous Crops in J!^ew York 



The decay of the organic matter in these soils leaves the ash 

 constituent behind. The ash elements are largely lime and have 

 a marked predominance of alkaline material that naturally aids 

 in keeping such land in proper condition for timothy. 



Alluvial Soils 



The second group of soils suited to the growth of timothy are 

 the alluvial bottom soils along the streams, which have many 

 characteristics that make them desirable. They are generally 

 moist — may be subject to overflow — are usually friable and deep, 

 and have a good stock of organic matter reaching to a dejDth of 

 several feet. While inclined to be damp or wet in spring, they 

 generally drain off and warm up in early summer about the time 

 the crop is making its maximum development. The permanent 

 character of timothy, which makes unnecessary the early spring 

 seeding, renders it particularly adapted to overflow land. 



Only the larger streams have a considerable development of 

 these alluvial soils. The most notable areas are those along the 

 Genesee River and tributary, along the Mohawk, and in some of 

 the larger valleys of the eastern and southern parts of the state. 

 The Middleburg Valley along the Schoharie River is good, 

 although it probably does not excel smaller areas of similar soil 

 along the streams in northern Delaware County, all of which have 

 a dark brown to red color, due to association with the red soils 

 of the uplands. 



Along the Susquehanna and Hoosic and other rivers and 

 streams, there are loops of this alluvial soil, generally of a dark 

 color, shading to gray or brown, owing to the presence of organic 

 matter. The material has been washed from the soils of the upland 

 and deposited during periods of overflow. Organic matter is 

 deeply incorporated. It is predominantly of a silty to fine sandy 

 texture. Veiy seldom does it run to a clay or a light sandy tex- 

 ture. In the Canaseraga and the Conewango valleys, it reaches 

 the latter texture in a few small bodies. The Pawling Valley 

 through Dutchess County has some good stretches of the soil. 

 In northern New York it has a small development. 



After a period of years of cultivation to hay, alluvial soils 

 are likely to need a supply of nitrogen, from either fertilizers 



