SOILS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT. 67 



matter within the soil becomes the soil solution which the trees use, 

 is a detrimental soil condition. Underlying ledges, large stones, 

 the several kinds of hardpan, and subsoils that are too impervious 

 because of excessively fine texture (too clayey) or stiff structure, are 

 of this class and should be scrupulously avoided. 



Again, the textural and structural relationship between soil and 

 subsoil may be of considerable importance. With surface soil of 

 strong loam, for example, a subsoil of light sandy loam or even of 

 compact sand is preferable to a loam or a clay loam, as it offsets in 

 a measure the more retentive tendency of the surface material; and 

 while such a soil section is probably less desirable than a strong sandy 

 loam underlain by a friable loam, or approximate material, it has 

 given good results, nevertheless, in several instances. It is a matter 

 of common experience, however, in various peach districts, that 

 where both soil and subsoil consist either of sand or of heavy ma- 

 terial the best results are not secured. In a given case where a small 

 part of a large orchard is a sand or a very light sandy loam it is 

 very difficult to secure a growth as strong as desired largely on ac- 

 count of the difficulty of keeping up the supply of humus. But the 

 subsoils that are in a general way satisfactory in both texture and 

 structure are extremely variable, and to the countless combinations of 

 these characteristics not all varieties respond equally well. For a 

 description of some of the individual types of soil upon which peach 

 growing has been most extensively developed the reader is referred 

 to page 23. 



In general, slightly moist soils seem less objectionable for the 

 white varieties at present grown in southern New England than for 

 the yellow sorts, a high finish on the latter being more difficult to 

 secure on soils which tend to be moist. This is evidenced in some 

 orchards on Wethersfield soils where underlain by a somewhat im- 

 pervious layer at a depth of 15 to 24 inches. This layer consists of a 

 mass of shale fragments embedded in heavy silt loam or silty clay 

 loam, the shale being so dense as to prevent the use of a soil auger, 

 and it in turn is usually underlain by bed rock. This soil is suffi- 

 ciently impervious to delay cultivation for a few days in the spring 

 after adjoining areas without the hardpan are ready, and all varie- 

 ties ripen appreciably later. These soils are not so impervious, how- 

 ever, as to cause any hydration, the soil being a clear red and of open 

 friable structure throughout. It is thus apparent that the excess 

 moisture, while disappearing slowly, eventually does so sufficiently 

 to prevent any hydration and to afford thorough aeration and oxida- 

 tion later in the season. Several of the white varieties are grown 

 satisfactorily, but the yellow sorts rarely have as good finish and the 

 quality, in some cases, at least, is inferior to that secured on other 

 soils. 



