284 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



contain a superficial layer of organic matter of a smaller 

 percentage. There are limited areas in this State where the 

 soil approaches a primitive condition, and in such places 

 plant development is much more luxuriant than in soils con- 

 taining little organic matter, which is so typical of many 

 of our present soils. With the exhaustion of the organic 

 matter in the soil there has taken place a change in its 

 chemical and physical properties. It no longer possesses 

 the same water- retaining capacity or the same amount of 

 available plant food. In this way the floral conditions have 

 been changed, and, instead of finding the characteristic 

 species of plants which once thrived in these soils, we find 

 their places taken by such species as the white birch, pop- 

 lar, bush clovers {Lesjjedezas) , goldenrods, beard's-grass 

 {A7idropoyons) ^ Indian grass {Chrys(ypogon nutans), etc. 



The cause of the decrease in organic matter may be traced 

 to various operations. During the time of the early settle- 

 ment of Massachusetts our ancestors found here woodland 

 which contained an exceptionally fine growth of trees, con- 

 stituting a forest difficult to penetrate. Here and there 

 were open fields containing native grasses and herbaceous 

 plants, growing luxuriantly, and our large river valleys were 

 especially noted as being free from dense forest growths. 

 This native growth exhibited a natural adaptability subjected 

 to the laws of natural selection, as its conformity to physical 

 conditions was not disturbed to any great extent through 

 the agency of man. These natural conditions had probably 

 existed since the glacial period, possibly ten thousand years ; 

 and a considerable amount of organic matter, due to centu- 

 ries of decay, covered the surface of the soil. Some of the 

 clay hills had already been cleared by the Indians in early 

 times for agricultural purposes, and were in turn eagerly 

 sought l)y the English migrators. The profuse growth of 

 timljer trees constituted a hindrance rather than a blessing 

 to the early settlers, in consequence of which large tracts of 

 primitive growth were cut and burned on the spot. By this 

 process a large amount of wood ashes was formed, which 

 gave rise to remarkable crops of white clover, but at the 

 same time the deposition of years of organic matter of a 

 priceless value was destroyed. The cutting and burning 



