78 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The significance of these figures is made more strikingly 

 evident by massing them somewhat. We find by addition 

 that the percentages of materials of the grade of finest sand 

 or coarser are as follows: Agawam, 45.90; Hatch, 7.04; 

 marsh, 3.65 ; of the grade of dust or finer, Agawam, 53.66 ; 

 Hatch, 91.79; marsh, 94.77. 



In the soil of the Hatch Experiment Station we have that 

 fortunate blending of materials which secures conditions 

 favorable to agricultural operations ; while the other soils 

 represent two opposite extremes. The Agawam soil has too 

 large a proportion of coarse, the diked marsh too large a 

 proportion of fine, material. 



The soil from the Hatch station is one to which it will be 

 found profitable to make large applications of manure or 

 fertilizers, because the physical conditions are such as to 

 allow them to exert their maximum efi'ect. Upon soil of 

 either of the classes represented by the others under con- 

 sideration the farmer must exercise greater caution, because 

 with unfavorable seasons the results are certain to be poor. 



And this leads me to say at this point that, while the 



