54 VEGETABLE FORCING 
testify to the merits of the radically modified soil. While 
many tons of organic matter were added by the use of 
muck, annual applications of stable manure have also 
been required to produce maximum crops. 
Boston soils—The soils of the Boston greenhouse 
section belong to the Glacial and Loessial province. In- 
asmuch as the region has not yet been surveyed, the soil 
types cannot be designated. The following is a me- 
chanical analysis of a typical soil from one of the Boston 
greenhouses: 
Water-retaining capacity ---------------- -- 67.90 
Organic ‘matter’. 2-e 2 seek See es 15.18 
Gravel <2. oo eet ees 5.75 
Coarse sand —------------_-------.--------- 8.12 
Medium sand)... 22-22<24.5eeeesseeseceseeese 7.07 
Tye sand! 22. eee teed esc eeceeccueae 12.06 
Very dine sands sacs deste ee 34.01 
SB ae me ee SE CNS te Et 2.10 
Fine silt 202222605 Satu e cee tbc nee cecas 0.20 
Clay coe eee ee 3.82 
It is evident that sand largely predominates and that 
there is also a liberal proportion of gravel. The large 
amount of organic matter is due to the frequent applica- 
tions of horse manure. The soils are well aerated, absorb 
water rapidly, dry quickly on the surface and are well 
adapted to forcing cucumbers, tomatoes and head lettuce. 
Chester fine sandy loam.—Three-tenths per cent, or 
1,472 acres, of the soils of Chester county, Pa., belong to 
this type. A mechanical analysis* of a typical sample of 
the Chester fine sandy loam gave the following results, 
expressed in percentages: 
Pine jetavel, s2ste-s sos eees ee ek 
Coarse ‘sand: saseetencesuseeses—e 
Medium sand ---------------------_--___ 
Wine isan et sas 25 co ee Deca ee el 
Silt sfteren aoe CL a ee ae a 26, 
* Soil Survey of Chester County, Pennsylvania, U. S. Bureau of Soils. 
