SO/L.S' OF XBW YORK 93 



all these in crop-producing capacity. In general, the 

 soil formation is from ten to fifty feet thick. It is 

 deepest in hollows and protected coves and thin or 

 even entirely absent over the higher hills and moun- 

 tains. In the Hudson Valley and in the Adirondack 

 Mountain region, exposures of bed rock are com- 

 mon. 



Information in detail covering the soil conditions 

 in New York may be found in the soil survey reports. 

 The survey has covered about 28,000 square miles or 

 about one-half of the State, mostly by counties. The 

 reports on the areas consist of a descriptive pamph- 

 let and a map. The maps represent the occurrence 

 of the different kinds of soils in relation to the 

 geographic features of the country on a scale of one 

 mile equals one inch. The descriptive report treats 

 of the location and general physical features of the 

 area, its geology, climate and agricultural history. 

 Each kind of soil is described in some detail and its 

 relation to crop growth and to the more important 

 soil improvement practices is pointed out. The aim 

 of the soil survey report is to give a comprehensive 

 account of the soils and natural agricultural features 

 of the region. 



The characteristics by which the different kinds or 

 types of soil are recognized are much the same as the 

 farmer uses, and include the color of the material, 

 the kinds of rock of which it is composed, tlie propor- 

 tion of limestone and organic matter it contains, the 

 arrangement of the material, whether unsorted or 

 sorted and arranged in layers of different fineness, 



