1900.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 63 



meridian 71^ 40'. (See map.) These towns would appear 

 to be on the border zone of the uredo spore outbreak, and 

 the occurrence of the rust here is by no means so universal 

 as it is in the sandier region of Cape Cod. Some of the 

 growers situated upon the border zones of infection may 

 have the summer stage badly one season and the next season 

 be free from it. The soil of this region offers sufficient dif- 

 ferences in texture from the more sandy coast soils, so that 

 sound, vigorous plants might be expected to ])e proof 

 against the rust in any season, and the outbreak here might 

 be largely prevented by careful cultivation and feeding of 

 the plants. 



An examination of the map (fig. 1) will show those por- 

 tions of Massachusetts in which the summer stage of aspara- 

 gus rust has appeared up to the present time. The only 

 resfion infested with this stage of the rust in Massachusetts 

 west of the meridian 71^ 40' is in the Connecticut valley, in 

 the vicinity of ^Montague, where the soil is remarkably sandy 

 and dry, while other portions of the Connecticut valley 

 which possess more or less heavier soil have been entirely 

 free from this stage. The affected area shown on the map 

 is characterized by a loose sandy soil, which possesses less 

 water-retaining properties in most instances than the soils 

 of their immediate vicinity. In order, however, to show 

 more definitely the differences existing between the texture 

 of the soils of the eastern part of the State and those of 

 the central and western parts, we have made a number of 

 mechanical analyses of the soils of various regions, which 

 include many from the infected asparagus fields. Any one 

 who has paid special attention to our Massachusetts soils 

 and their influence upon the development of plants would 

 not require a mechanical analysis in order to become con- 

 vinced of the differences existing between them, as a glance 

 at the soils in the field would be sufficient. Nevertheless, 

 a mechanical analysis will show us the exact differences ex- 

 isting between the textures of the soil of the various regions, 

 and we will moreover be able to demonstrate the amount of 

 dift'erence exhibited in their water-retaining capacity. The 

 following table gives the data of the mechanical analysis* 



* Tlio methods of analysis emplo.vcil arc those of Prof. Milton Wliitney. 



