of a sandy or gravelly nature, with some clay deposits. Here 

 and there rocks, left by the ancient continental glaciers, lie near 

 the surface, either projecting above the ground or buried at 

 moderate depths. As is the case with most soils of glacial 

 origin, there is usually a greater variety in the character of the 

 soils of limited areas (such as are contained in the ordinary 

 farm) than in soils otherwise formed. One may readily pass 

 at a single step from a dry and sandy soil to one very retentive 

 of water, where he will sink into mud ankle deep. The soil 

 being thus varied, the vegetation is, in consequence, quite 

 diversified. We have not only the pitch pine, scrub oak, pov- 

 erty grass, beach plums and bearberry of the stratified sands 

 of Cape Cod, but also the birches, elms, oaks, maples, horn- 

 beams, sassafras, white pine and cedars of a more fertile soil. 

 These and other trees both of the coast region and the interior 

 flourish here, with a profusion of berries of native kinds, except 

 perhaps the raspberry, high blackberry and wild strawberry, 

 none of which is plentiful. There are very few nut and ash 

 trees or white oak groves. There is a profusion of wild flower- 

 ing plants, a great variety of shrubbery, and there are some 

 grasses which are not found in the interior. 



A few birds that are common on the rocky hillsides of the 

 western part of the State are not common in Wareham or its 

 vicinity; but their absence is more than made up by the greater 

 number of water, shore and marsh birds found here. 



The tract of land which has been kept under observation 

 consists of the farm, extending from the highway at the north 

 to the water way the river at the south, together with the 

 lands adjacent, and the waste lands in which the river rises 

 and out of which it flows. From the shore of the river at the 

 southern boundary of the farm we may look across a fine sheet 

 of water, where the three rivers join, to the village at Wareham 

 station. Beneath these waters oysters, clams and quahaugs 

 grow naturally. The river at times swarms with edible migra- 

 tory fish. Shrimp, crabs and other aquatic and marine forms 

 of life abound. 



Such a variety of food animals is sure to attract water birds. 

 Down the river, toward the bay, gulls or terns, or both together, 

 may be found according to the season. Bay ducks are not 



