4 University of Xi:\v Hampshire [Sta. Bull. 321 



the brown or dark brown plowed soil rests upon the yellowish-brown sub- 

 surface or upper subsoil. Roots and moisture penetrate the soil with 

 ease, and there is always a sufficient moisture supply for crop develop- 

 ment. 



"Worthington Itjam is confined to the eastern part of the town of 

 Columbia, central parts of Colebrook and Stewartstown, and extends to 

 a degree into Clarksville. Approximateh' four square miles of this soil 

 is mapped on the more mild relief of the rolling upland areas in this sec- 

 tion. It is developed from schist till that has some calciferous or lim\ 

 schist, and siliceous limestone incorporated. It occurs mainly east of a 

 lime belt that begins a few miles to the southeast of Colebrook village, and 

 extends northward across Colebrook, Stewartstown and Clarksville. 



"The movement of the glacier from northwest to southeast across thi- 

 lime belt incorporated a considerable amount of the lime carrying rock^ 

 with the till. The visible easterly and southerly limits of this lime-influ- 

 ence is the boundary that separates the Worthington soils from the Berk- 

 shire soils. 



"The Worthington loam is nearly all in crops. On it, together with 

 some of the smoother Berkshire and Greensboro soils, is developed tin 

 most stable agriculture of the rolling upland sections of the county and of 

 the state. Although not as well adajited to growing of grains as some of 

 the valley farms because it is 1200 to 2000 feet above sea level, it grows 

 other crops just as well, and potatoes on this soil give higher averagr 

 yields. Located here are many dairy-potato-growing farms. 



"Farming is rather intensive, includes relatively short rotations, heavy 

 use of manure and commercial fertilizer, growing of legumes for hay. and 

 liming of land when not used for potato growing. Because of favorable 

 soil and climatic conditions, there is a tendency of some farms to take on 

 a specialized potato-farm aspect, with dairying as a sideline to furnish an 

 outlet for forage crops and as a source of manure to keep up soil fertility. 



"The section in which the W'orthington and associated soils occur is 

 relatively free from disease and insect pests that affect potatoes ; and a 

 considerable amount of the crop is certified for sale as seed to other les> 

 favored sections. 



"Timothy anfl clover hay yieUls V/2 to 2 tons or more per acrr. mixed 

 soybean and millet hay about the same, and grains cut for hay slightly less. 

 Grain harvested is negligible, but in favorable years yields well. Potatoes, 

 under average farm practice using 1 ton of 20-unit fertilizer, yield from 

 200 to 300 bushels ])er acre; when ])lanted close with extra fertilizer, yields 1 

 of 400 bushels are common and maximum yields are above 500 bushels 

 per acre." 



Paxton loam, found on the Lane farm field, is typical of many southern 

 New Hampshire potato-growing areas since this soil occupies the rounded 

 hilltops of much of this area. The soil is one of the brown podzolic group, 

 and has been describecl by soil survey men as follows : 



"Paxton .soils ftccur with I'rookfield soils, and have developed where 

 the glacier overrode the yellow till causing it to be compact and platy. T\u 

 most common occurrence is on the glacial form known as drumlin. 



