SOILS OF NEW YORK 101 



in the series, the stony loam, the loam and the fine 

 sandy loam. Tlie two latter are excellent soils. 

 They are sometimes a little shallow, which property 

 interferes with their moisture supply. Their higli 

 lime content makes them especially favorable to the 

 growth of alfalfa and clover. Blue-grass thrives, as 

 it also does on the Ontario series. The hop industry, 

 formerly more prominent than at present, and de- 

 veloped from northeastern Madison to northern 

 Schoharie counties, is largely associated with these 

 series. 



East and northeast of the Ontario-Honeoye occur- 

 rence, through the middle of the Mohawk Valley, 

 the glacial till from the Trenton limestone and from 

 the black calcareous Utica shale is mingled with the 

 igneous material, brought down from the Adirondack 

 region. The Hudson Eiver sandstone and shale on 

 the north side of that valley contribute some material. 

 The result is a rather compact material that ranges 

 from a clay loam, through the silt loam to the loam 

 in texture, and is called the Mohawk series. The 

 limestone and the black Utica shale have contributed 

 a considerable amount of calcareous material. The 

 black shale gives a dark to black color, especially 

 when wet. Finally, the granite and other igneous 

 bowlders from the Adirondacks that make up much 

 of the field stone and in finer form enter into the 

 soil, distinguish this series from the calcareous soils 

 described above. 



In crop-producing capacity, the Mohawk series 

 closely resembles the Ontario. Especially is this 



