1907.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



197 



ridge passing through Worcester countyj they are abundant 

 and symmetrical in outline, forming the most picturesque 

 part of the landscape. 



While these are commonly termed " clay hills," their sur- 

 face soil cannot be classed as such, although it is a heavy, 

 rather cold soil, especially adapted to the growth of some of 

 the coarser grasses, like timothy. They make excellent pas- 

 tures for cattle, and many of the best dairies in the State 

 are located in regions where these hills prevail. (C/. Table 



Drumlins Avere formerly much valued by the Indians for 

 agricultural purposes, since historical research ' reveals that 

 many of them were cleared of forest growth at the time of the 

 first English settlement in New England. They are well 

 supplied with water, as is shown by the fact that crops grown 

 on them seldom suffer from drought. They are largely 

 cleared of forest growth to-day, because they are now, as in 

 early times, highly valued for agricultural purposes. The 

 original growth of trees consisted of chestnut, and where 

 forests exist on these hills at the present time they consist 

 mainly of this species. 



Of the remaining soils, a variety of types are represented. 

 (C/. Table VII.) A large number of these were taken from 

 the experiment station grounds, and they predominate in 

 very fine sand, which causes the soil to become quite compact 

 when wet. They resemble the general type of Connecticut 



