8 BULLETIN 341, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



overshot wheels, the principal use of this power being for pumping 

 water to the farm buildings. In the early days many of the lowland 

 pastures were irrigated. Some of the old trenches can still be seen. 



SOILS. 



Figure 4 represents the distribution of the principal soil types 

 of the surveyed area. It will be observed that the Chester loam 

 is by far the most important soil in the region, followed by the 

 Manor loam. These two soil types occupy nearly the whole area, 

 there being scattered here and there small patches of other types. 

 This area was selected partly because of unusually uniform soil con- 

 ditions. The elimination of important soil differences makes it pos- 

 sible to study other factors of profitableness in farming to great 

 advantage. 



The Chester loam is described by the Bureau of Soils as a silty 

 loam, which means that it is somewhat heavier and more compact 

 than an ordinary loam soil. The soil is, on the average, about 10 

 inches deep, having a smooth texture with little coarse grit except 

 in the subsoiL The Manor loam, the next most important soil type, 

 differs from the Chester loam mainly in containing more coarse, 

 micaceous material. It is also somewhat less productive. 



The soils of this area have in general been formed by the disin- 

 tegration of granitic rocks, which are deficient in lime, though in a 

 few places there are limited areas of limestone outcrop. The soils 

 are not naturally highly fertile, though when properly managed they 

 may be made distinctly so. 



The pastures consist almost entirely of Kentucky bluegrass, and 

 are remarkably productive when the deficiency of lime in the soil is 

 considered. Their productivity is, in the main, due to the rather 

 heavy character of the soil and to the excellent care taken of the 

 pastures (see fig. 4). In this area farmers manure and lime their 

 pastures frequently, and it is not uncommon to find pastures, espe- 

 cially those in the stream bottoms, with a carrying capacity of one 

 cow per acre. 



AGRICULTURAL HISTORY. 



Records of the early agriculture of Chester County are meager. 

 The county was established by law in 1682 and was formally or- 

 ganized in 1685. It was then an important agricultural area, the 

 county seal selected in 1683 bearing a plow in recognition of its 

 agricultural character. Indeed Chester County has always been 

 noted for its progressiveness in agricultural matters. Some of 

 the first American plows and hay-cutting implements were invented 



