BALDWIN SOILS 17 



" From this broad generalization it will be seen that the surface soil 

 should contain an appreciable amount of sand. The sand, moreover, should 

 not be all of one grade — that is, a high percentage of coarse sand would 

 give a poor soil, whereas a moderate admixture of it witli the liner grades 

 of sand, together with sufficient clay and silt, would work no harm. In 

 general, the sand content should be of the finer grades, but soils also occur, 

 though comparatively rare, which would be too heavy for this variety 

 were it not for a marked content of the coarse sands, the effect of which 

 is to make the soil mass much more friable and open than would be ex- 

 pected with the presence of so much clay. Such soil dries quickly after a 

 rain, and is not to be classed as a moist soil. It will never clod if worked 

 under conditions at all reasonable. 



" If the svibsoil be so clayey or heavy that moisture does not percolate 

 down through it readily, a Baldwin of poor color, with a skin more or less 

 greasy, is the usual result. 



" The ideal to be sought is a heavy, fine, sandy loam, or light, mellow 

 loam, underlaid by plastic clay loam or heavy, silty loam. It is fully 

 realized that the individual may not possess or easily acquire just this 

 ideal, but the soil that most closely resembles it should be chosen. If 

 corn be grown on such soil the lower leaves will cure down before cutting 

 time, giving evidence of moderately early maturity. This is one of the 

 safe criteria by which to be guided in choosing soil for this variety. 



" Mention was not made in the above description of the color of the 

 soil. The desirability of a surface soil of dark brown, the color being 

 due to the presence of decaying organic matter, is unquestionable, and 

 is generally recognized; and if the soil be not that color the successful 

 orchardist will so make it by the incorporation of organic matter by 

 means of leguminous crops or otherwise. It is often cheaper to buy soil 

 with a good organic content, or humus supply, than it is to be compelled 

 to put it there after purchase before good crops can be secured. Hence, 

 this is purely an economic feature. The warning should be given, how- 

 ever, that soil should not be purchased or planted to apples of any variety 

 merely because it is dark colored and rich in humus. The soil should 

 be selected because of its textural and structural adaptation, regardless of 

 the organic content; then if such soils happen to be well supplied with 

 organic matter, so much the better; if not, it may be supplied. 



■■' To modify, however, by the addition of humus, the physical con- 

 dition of a sand until it resembles a sandy loam as far down as tree 

 roots ordinarily extend is unquestionably an expensive process, and as 

 orchards are grown for profit, the soils on which they are to be planted 

 should be so selected for the different varieties as to furnish the most 

 favorable condition possible before going to the additional expense of 

 trying to change their character artificially. 



" While soils so deficient in humus as to be leachy in the case of 

 2 



