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limestone ridge runs through the county from S. W. to N. E., at a distance of 

 from five to seven miles east of Fox River. This serves as a dividing ridge 

 between the waters running into Green Bay and Lake Michigan. In its geologi- 

 cal character, this ridge is of primary formation, compact, amorphous, of a bluish- 

 gray color, and without organic remains. There is, however, in several localities 

 in the county, limestone of organic formation, of early and more recent date, 

 affording some very fine specimens. 



Timber and Soil. — On the high bants near the river, the timber is light and 

 dwarfish, and in many places the soil is thin ; but further back on either side, 

 the timber becomes heavy, and the soil deep and strong, producing all the varie- 

 ties of hard wood to be found in this latitude, interspersed with pine, and in 

 some towns a good proportion of hemlock. The county generally is heavily tim- 

 bered with sugar maple, beech, oak, elm, birch, and bass-wood. The sub-soil is 

 mostly of a heavy or clayey loam, containing more or less limestone pebbles. 

 Pine ridges are of frequent occurrence, particularly through the eastern, centre, 

 northern, and north-western parts of the county. The soil here is generally 

 sandy and light, but will produce grain well with a thorough course of tillage. 



Crops. — Brown county is well adapted to the growth of wheat, rye, oats, 

 barley, buckwheat, Indian corn, &,c., but grass is the most natural to the soil, 

 hence it is much better adapted to stock-raising and grazing, than it is to produc- 

 ing grain, or to such branches ofhusbandry sk involve a constant tillage of the soil. 

 Oats and rye produce well with little care, and wheat amply repays the laborer 

 when he does justice in preparing the ground and putting in the seed. By a 

 judicious system of tillage, wheat may be made a leading crop, and will be 

 reliable. The greatest trouble with it now is, liability to rust and winter-kill. 

 The last will be obviated by cultivating the ground better and sowing earlier i 

 the first will be benefitted by the same means, and fuijther improved by obser- 

 ving the effects of different kinds of manure upon the crop. The hardier varieties 

 of Indian corn are cultivated with success, but pwing to the coldness of occasional 

 seasons, it is not altogether reliable as a leading crop upon the high lands, 

 although Judge Arndt has successfully cultivated corn in the same field for 

 twenty-three years in succession. This was near #B river, in the town of Green 

 Bay. The potatoe disease has aftected this crop considerably for the last few 

 years, particularly when grown upon low, moist groun^ or a clayey soil ; but in 

 dry, sandy or gravelly soils, they have generally escaped the rot, and proved a 

 good crop. Other roots produce bountifully. 



Mode of Cultivation. — With few exceptions, a systematic course of agricul- 

 ture has not been pursued in Brown County, until within the last two or three 

 years ; and, even now, the best specimens of cultivated farms are very imperfect 

 efforts. Hence little can be said with reference to pattern farming. Captain J. 

 9 



