SOILS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT. 65 
during a droughty period affects these sorts more severely than the 
stronger growing varieties such as Baldwin, and under equal con- 
ditions the Gloucester loam certainly maintains a more uniform 
moisture supply than the Wethersfield loam, though not necessarily 
more than deep areas of the less extensive Wethersfield silt loam. 
Undoubtedly other of the weaker-growing, or short-lived, sorts will 
also do better under the same treatment on the average Gloucester 
soils than on the Wethersfield ; but strong-growing varieties such as 
Wealthy and Mcintosh are very promising on the loam, silt loam, 
and heavy phases of the sandy loam in the Wethersfield series, except 
at low elevations in southern Connecticut, and on them Baldwin has 
long since proved its worth for commercial purposes. 
THE ADAPTEDNESS OF SOILS TO VARIETIES OF PEACHES. 
If a line be drawn connecting the northernmost of the commercial 
peach orchards in Connecticut it will correspond in a general way 
to the most southern of the average isothermal lines (U. S. Weather 
Bureau) of the six winter months which includes any material 
part of the State. During the spring months of March, April, and 
May the fluctuations of the extremes of temperature are also a little 
less marked within this belt where, at good local elevations, the 
minimum temperature does not reach the point of frost as fre- 
quently as elsewhere in the State, and winter temperatures are like- 
wise a little less severe. This effects a relative steadiness of tem- 
perature during critical periods which lessens the danger from frost. 
The line referred to would extend just north of the southwest cor- 
ner flange of the State, where it projects into New York, north- 
easterly about 10 miles north of South Norwalk, thence to Beacon 
Falls and Farmington, across the Connecticut Valley north of Hart- 
ford to Vernon, south to East Glastonbury and Haddam, and thence 
to the southeast corner of the State. Within the area lying between 
this line and the Sound most of the commercial peach orchards of 
Connecticut are located, though comparatively little development has 
taken place east of Haddam where it may be said the weather records 
seem a little less favorable, and in the southwestern extension of the 
State orchards are scattering. 
On the Gloucester soils of the Western Highlands is located, how- 
ever, one of the largest commercial orchards, and there are many 
smaller ones in both the highland districts. The importance of good 
local elevation can hardly be overestimated. Even in an average 
season the rotting of fruit is much worse in orchards where the free 
and rapid circulation of the air is in any way impeded, and in a 
season such as 1912 when the weather was hot and humid during 
part of the picking period, the tendency is much increased. The 
55570*— Bull. 140—15 5 
