SOILS OF NEW YORK 109 



" small-scale " practices that go with small opera- 

 tions. The rough topography that generally pre- 

 vails, together with the dissection of the tillable 

 areas of soil by the numerous rock exposures will 

 continue to interfere with the development, except in 

 limited regions, of large, well arranged progressively 

 managed farm units. Its proximity to large centers 

 of population, together with the beautiful roll and 

 outlook of the coimtry, strongly stimulates the 

 " summer boarder crop." This indeed is spreading 

 in ever increasing numbers up the valley and over 

 the Catskills, and is breaking up enterprises of a 

 strictly agricultural character. 



The glacial till soils fall into three series, one of 

 which, the Dutchess, is far the most extensive. It 

 is the result of the glaciation of the Hudson River 

 formation of sandstones and shales. Occupying 

 pockets through the region, the limestone and mar- 

 ble have given rise to the calcareous Dover series, 

 which has a small total development. The igneous 

 and highly metamorphosed gneiss rocks in the heel 

 of the State, gave rise when glaciated to the Glouces- 

 ter series, the typical hiU lands of much of New 

 England. 



The three most extensive soil types in the Dutchess 

 series represent differences in general depth and char- 

 acter and amount of stone content. The silt loam is 

 the deepest, the most generally tillable, and by far the 

 best agricultural soil for extensive farming. Hay pas- 

 ture and timber are its most natural products. When 

 well handled, it gives good yields of grain, corn. 



