Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-20
WINDHAM SOIL SURVEY MADE
Followed Requests of Citizens Endorsed by Congressman Higgins-Government Experts Have Concluded Work and Report-Daiying and Orchards Have Grown in Last Few Years.

Through the bureau of soils of the department of agriculture the soil sur vey of Windham county has been com- pleted and the report issued. in which it Is stated that the selection of this area was made because of urgent re- quests of citizens of the county. duly indorsed by Congressman Edwin w. Higgins. The work was done in 1910 and 1911. After going into details very completely, the report gives the following summary of the soil survey:
 Summary.
 Windham county lies in the north- eastern corner of the state and in- cludes 15 towns, with a total area of 527 square miles, or 337,280 acres. Yhe census of 1900 gave the county a pop ulation of 46,S61. while in 1910 it had 4S,361 inhabitants. Willimantic, pop ulation 11,230 Is the largest city. Put nam, with 6,637 inhabitants, is the next largest place; and Danielson, with 2,934 inhabitants, is the third place in size and manufacturing importance. There are numerous small manufac- turing towns along the railroads, and back from the railroads are number of typical New England villages. one or more in each town.
 
 part are rolling to steep, hilly and broken, with local differences in ele- vation ranging up to 800 feet, and a general elevation of 120 to HOO feet above sea level Comparatively level areas intermediate in elevation occur through most of the wide valleys. The broadest of these runs through the east center of the county, along the Quinebaug river which forms the main drainage outlet for the area and con- tains many excellent power sites. All of these streams are bordered by mar row overflow strips, and some of these are in swamp condition.
 The county has good railroad fa- cilities and an extensive system of public roads.
 The climate is marked by long, cold winters, with a heavy snowfall and short, cool summers, with occasional short periods of extreme heat.
 More Interest in Farming.
 Since 1905, more interest has been taken in farming, and a great many of the farms more recently abandoned are now being improved again. Land values have advanced. Apple orchards are being planted, neglected orchards pruned and cultivated, and conditions nave llupl lONCu SCIlCl any. bdLI HE has made rapid strides in the last few years and is an important feature of the agriculture. The leading. crops are hay, corn, potatoes, rye, buckwheat and beans.
 Chances for Stock Raising.
 The county offers good opportunities for stock raising. Extensive areas too stony for cultivation could be put in o1r 11H sheep. Hogs may also be prof1tably raised
 Nine types of soil are mapped. These are grouped in three series and the three miscellaneous types, rough stony land, meadow and muck.
 The Gloucester series comprises the high upland soils, the Merrimac series includes the terrace soils, and the Po- dunk the alluvial material, where suf- ficiently uniform to be mapped as a type.
 Gloucester Loam.
 The Gloucester loam is an important type, occurring in the central part of the county. It is the least stony ot the upland soils. easy to till, except on the sleeper slopes, and naturally productive. It is used principally for dairying and the production of hay corn and potatoes. It gives good yields of all the crops grown. It is a good apple soil.
 The Gloucester foam is an import ant type occurring through the centra part of the county. Its most exten- sive development IS in the towns ot Woodstock and Pomfret, extending from the Massachusetts line to be. yond the railroad south of the will lage of Pomfret. A number of smaller areas occur west of this and farther south through Killingly, Brooklyn anG Plainfeld towns.
 Fine Sandy Loam.
 The Gloucester fine sandy loam ii an extensive upland type, easy to til and nearly as productive as the loam