54 BULLETIN 140, XT. S. DEPARTMENT OF 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 Bernardston 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. T}^pical 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 
XIY, 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. 
