1SZ REPORT OF THE BOvTANIS? OF THH 
Two years later Messrs. Stone and Smith,™ of Massachusetts, 
say: “The injurious effects of the rust have been confined to dry 
sandy soils possessing little capacity for holding water. Where 
the soil is heavier, possessing more water-retaining qualities, the 
rust has caused no perceptible harm.” In a still later report” 
the same writers endeavor to show “ the susceptibility of plants 
growing in localities possessing soil with little water-retaining 
properties.” Their conclusions are based upon an extensive study 
of the localities affected, also upon mechanical analyses of the } 
surface soils from ten different sections of the State where as- 
paragus is grown. They also assert that the summer (uredo) 
stage is limited in its distribution in Massachusetts and is found 
only on those soils which are sandy and possess little water- 
retaining properties, whether they are located near the coast or 
inland. 
In conclusion they recommend the selection of soils, for new 
beds, which possess ecnsiderable water-retaining capacity, even 
if such soil is not adapted quite so well for asparagus during 
ordinary seasons. For old beds they recommend increasing the 
soil moisture by irrigation, by increasing the organic matter, and 
by mulching. 
Unfortunately nearly all the asparagus sections of Long Island 
are situated in what Messrs. Stone and Smith have classed as 
coast lands. A few fields are situated in the drift soils of the 
terminal moraine, but for the most part they are situated on 
drift and wash sands. The best of the soils are what are called 
sandy loams. Differences due to what was considered the vitality 
of individual plants, also to protection by timber belts, corn fields 
and other windbreaks, have been observed. In no case in this 
section have differences been noted which could be traced to soil 
conditions. In many cases where the fields are situated on wash 
sands the water-table is so near the surface that the roots of the 
plants could easily reach the water; while the moraine soils often 
have a depth of fifty to one hundred feet to the water-table. 7 

* Hatch (Mass.) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 61, p. 19, 1899. 
“Hatch (Mass.) Exp. Sta. Ann. Rept., 1899, p. 190. 
