70 BULLETIN 140, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



not more compact than a friable loam or light silty loam. (See 

 PI. XXI.) 



The Elberta and the Belle {Belle of Georgia) thrive on well- 

 drained soils that are somewhat stronger than the varieties previ- 

 ously mentioned. The wood is said to be less brittle than that of 

 some other varieties, and hence suffers less from breaking down. 

 Loams, silty loams, and silt loams with subsoils of similar material 

 seem not too heavy, nor to supply any excess of moisture provided 

 the entire soil section is well drained. These varieties do not ripen 

 as early locally on such soil types as on those more sandy, but in 

 most cases earliness is of little importance with these varieties as 

 compared with a better development of fruit. While the Elberta 

 and the Belle, in common with other varieties, are best grown on 

 deep soils, they are somewhat less sensitive to shallow soil conditions 

 than are such varieties as Champion or Carman, though no variety 

 grows so well on shallow soils, and in general they will stand stronger 

 fertilization and greater amounts of organic matter in the soil than 

 will Champion or Carman. 



Late Crawford also seems to thrive best on a fairly strong soil such 

 as a light porous loam, one that is a little less retentive of moisture 

 than the heaviest of the Elberta soils mentioned. 



Some of the early varieties, such as Greensboro, are less sensitive 

 to shallow soil conditions than others, this probably being due, in 

 part at least, to the inferior quality of these early sorts as compared 

 with later varieties. 



SUMMARY. 



The surface features of Massachusetts and Connecticut are locally 

 complex, but they may be grouped as follows to show general rela- 

 tionships: The Western Highland, the Berkshire Valley, the Con- 

 necticut Valley, the Eastern Highland, and farther east in Massachu- 

 setts the Eastern Plateau, the Framingham-Boston Lowland, and the 

 coastal district, which includes Cape Cod. 



The climate is rigorous, but the seasons are of sufficient length for 

 the securing of good farm crops. The climatic conditions are very 

 favorable for apples in both States. Peaches are successfully grown 

 in several localities, but the chief development is along the high slopes 

 adjoining the lower Connecticut Valley Basin. 



The upland soils have been derived from glacial drift, except pos- 

 sibly on a few of the steep and narrow preglacial ridges early de- 

 nuded of all glacial debris. The soils are thus composite in character. 

 Large and important areas of sedimentary soils occupy the Con- 

 necticut Valley and alluvial soils also occur along many of the minor 

 streams. 



