70 BULLETIN" 140, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
not more compact than a friable loam or light silty loam. (See 
PL XXL) 
The Elbert a 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 earhy 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. 
