INBIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 227 



acter of the vegetation is greatly affected by -warmth and moisture; 

 warmth and moisture are largely determined by the composition of the 

 soil. 



If we have a soil composed of gravel, sand, or both combined, we are 

 apt to have a hot, dry soil in summer, supporting but little if any vegeta- 

 tion; if a heavy clay, it is generally cold and wet, or if dry, very hard and 

 compact; if we have an excess of vegetable and animal matter, humus, 

 we shall have a very porous, light soil, becoming hot and dry in dry 

 weather, and in wet weather producing an excessive gi'owth of vegetation 

 on account of the presence of a great amount of nitrogen in such soils. 



The composition of soils so much affects the growth of trees that we 

 have come to know the character of the soil from the kinds of trees and 

 plants gi'owing upon them. Hence we speak of sugar tree, poplar, black 

 walnut, beech and black jack soils. 



As to fruits, experience has proven to us that soil and situation will 

 to a considerable extent determine the varieties to be planted; for 

 instance, we have learned that peaches and gi-apes do best on a light, 

 warm, sandy or gravelly soil, while pears and quinces do best on a heavy 

 clay. 



For all practical purposes, the kinds of soil most common to our State 

 may be described and located as follows: 



The black alluvial soils, containing a large per cent, of humus, or vege- 

 table matter, and varying quantities of sand and clay, and of varying 

 depth, underlain with gravel or heavy clay, and to be found for the most 

 part in the level and lower situations in the central, northern and western 

 portions of the State. This character of soil is best adapted to growing 

 the cereals, grasses and vegetables. 



When the black, loose, surface soil is of moderate depth and underlain 

 with a stiff clay, if such a soil be well tile drained, the tree fruits will 

 succeed fairly well, especially apples, pears and plums. Some varieties 

 of small fruits succeed very well on this kind of soil, but this character 

 of soil is not congenial to a very great variety of small fruits. 



When this black surface soil is of considerable depth, plants and trees 

 do not seem to produce as good a root system as in the clay soils; it seems 

 to lack the necessary mechanical conditions, as well as the conditions 

 essential to the best plant and tree development. 



The sandy, gravelly soils are, for the most part, found in the extreme 

 northern portions of the State and along the water courses. The more 

 clay and humus mixed with the sand and gravel, the better the soil for 

 grain and fruits. If the soil be mostly sand, several inches in depth, 

 underlain with gravel, unless the water level below comes within reach 

 of the plants, in dry weather the soil becomes dry and hot and unfavorable 

 for plant or tree growth. Such a soil is especially unfavorable for small 

 fruit plants; these root near the surface and burn out in dry weather for 

 want of moisture. 



