'the soil for almost any purpose, and even for the production of 

 hay. 



Rushes are also somewhat grassilike but are yet more easily 

 distinguished from grasses than sedges. Their stems are pithy or 

 hollow, but not jointed. Their flowers are produced in clusters 

 and are small and greenish or brownish in color. Rushes like 

 sedges prefer moist or wet soils and indicate the necessity of arti- 

 ficial drainage. 



Miscellaneous Herbaceous Plants : The herbaceous plants 

 which grow along the fence rows or in unimproved land should be 

 ■carefully noted : The small golden-rods and sun-flowers indicate 

 relatively Hght, comparatively dry and poor soils, so too do bush 

 clovers (Lespedeza), mullein and lupines. The asters indicate soils 

 having better capacity to retain moistiire. The presence of vetches 

 in abundance, and the fact that the common yellow dock flour- 

 ishes and attains a large size, indicate that the soil is more reten- 

 tive of moistme and of better quality. Horse-tail {Eqiiisetitm 

 arvense) indicates a light soil. 



Among other classes of plants whose presence and abundance, 

 especially if the individual specimens are of good size, indicate 

 soil of good retentive capacity and of good quaHty are some of the 

 larger species of the parsley family, the mints, and some of the 

 species of the nettle family. Heaths such as the checkerberry, 

 cranberry and huckleberry indicate a soil likely to be deficient in 

 lime. 



The presence of bluets (Houstonia), the greenish mosses and of 

 ierns in abundance is an indication that the soil is probably sour. 



The Japanese farmers are accustomed to say that in wild land 

 "where the most common color of the flowers of the natural vegeta- 

 tion is yellow the soil is poor, but if the prevailing color of the 

 flowers of the natural vegetation is blue the soil is sure to be com- 

 paratively good. Although this classification is not entirely safe 

 it will generally apply under conditions prevailing in Massachu- 

 setts. 



The Weed Growth : In attempting to fonn an estimate of the 

 character and productive value of cultivated land the varieties of 

 weeds and their size and vigor should be noted. There are, of 

 comse, innumerable kinds of weeds and no attempt is made to 

 mention all ; only a few of the more common which afford clear 

 indications as to soil quality will be named : 



Wormwood {Artemisia absinthium) indicates a light and i da- 

 tively dry soil. Pigweeds of different species {Amaranthus and 

 Chenopodium) indicate rich soil with greater capacity to retain 

 moisture. The smart weeds (Polygonum) indicate a soil which is 

 inclined to be moist and usually relatively rich. " Pusley " or 

 purslane {Portulaca oleracea) flourishes in rich soils inclined to be 



