54 BULLETIN 140, tl. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



light clay loam. The surface soil is dark-brown to grayish-brown 

 heavy loam more retentive of moisture than the subsoil. Such a 

 soil is better for Gravenstein or Fall Pippin. 



The Bernarclston soils are not quite so good as the Gloucester for 

 the Baldwin and similar red varieties of apples because the fruit 

 matures later and, under the climatic conditions which obtain where 

 these soils are found, tends to a deficiency in color. On the basis of 

 comparisons with similar soils in Connecticut this deficiency seems 

 to be even more marked with peaches. The Rhode Island Greening 

 is well grown, however, on these soils. 



The apparent ideal to be sought is a heavy, fine sandy loam, or 

 light mellow loam, underlain by a deep subsoil of plastic light clay 

 loam or heavy silty loam. It is fully realized that many will not 

 possess this ideal, but the soil that most closely resembles it should 

 be chosen. If corn be grown on such soil the lower leaves will cure 

 down in an average season before cutting time, giving evidence of 

 moderately early maturity. This is one of the safe criteria by which 

 to be guided in choosing soil for this variety in the New England 

 section. Typical Gloucester loam conforms ideally to the above con- 

 ditions and characteristic growth of the Baldwin on this soil at both 

 low and high altitudes — 50 to 1,000 feet — is shown in Plate X to 

 XIV, inclusive. 



Mention was not made in the above description of the color of the 

 soil. The desirability of a surface soil of dark brown, the color being 

 due to the presence of decaying organic matter, is unquestionable 

 and generally recognized, and if the soil be not that color the suc- 

 cessful orchardist will so make it by the incorporation of organic 

 matter through the growth of leguminous crops or otherwise. It 

 is often cheaper to buy soil with a good organic content or humus 

 supply than it is to be compelled to put it there after purchase. 

 Hence, this is purely an economic feature. The warning should be 

 stated, however, that a soil should not be purchased or planted to 

 apples of any variety because it is dark colored and rich in humus. 

 Both soil and subsoil should be selected because of their textural and 

 structural adaptation regardless of the organic content. Then if such 

 soils happen to be well supplied with vegetable matter so much the 

 better ; if not, it may be supplied. 



To modify, by the addition of humus, the physical condition of a 

 sand until it resembles a sandy loam as far down as tree roots ordi- 

 narily extend, is unquestionably an expensive process, and as or- 

 chards are grown for profit the soils on which they are to be planted 

 should be so selected for the different varieties as to furnish the 

 most favorable conditions possible before going to the additional 

 expense of trying to change their character artificially. 



