THE MARSHALL, SILT LOAM. 9 



corn crops, thus showing the desirability if not the necessity of 

 some form of crop rotation for the maintenance of the efficiency of 

 the type. 



LIMITATIONS UPON SPECIAL CROPS. 



The high value of the Marshall silt loam for the production of corn, 

 primarily, and of oats and hay in proper rotation with corn, has led 

 to the devotion of almost all its area to the production of general 

 farming crops. The financial results secured from this system of 

 general farming have been so satisfactoiy that the introduction of 

 any special crops upon the type has been undertaken only to a 

 small extent in a few special localities. 



It has been found that in the more rolling and elevated areas 

 occupied by the Marshall silt loam, particularly in southwestern 

 Iowa but also in other portions of the area where it is developed, 

 certain varieties of apples may well be planted where both air and 

 water drainage are adequate. These varieties are the Wealthy, 

 Jonathan, Winesap, and Ben Davis. It is undeniably a fact that 

 apple production upon a commercial scale over a considerable pro- 

 portion of the area of this type east of the Missouri River is possible, 

 and ultimately will become desirable when the demand for the 

 varieties suited to it shall justify their extensive planting. 



Locally Irish potatoes also constitute an important subordinate 

 crop for production upon this type. The yields vary from 75 to 150 

 bushels per acre under the most ordinaiy treatment and could 

 undoubtedly be doubled by anyone engaging in the systematic 

 cultivation of the crop. 



Locally the small fruits and garden vegetables are produced for 

 home consumption, and in the vicinity of some of the larger cities 

 within the area of the Marshall silt loam market gardening has 

 been undertaken upon the type to some extent. This is notably 

 the case in the vicinity of Omaha and of some of the other more 

 western cities. In general, however, the type is at present devoted 

 to its best uses as the great corn soil of the central prairie States. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



Although somewhat neglected in the earlier days of pioneer set- 

 tlement, the Marshall silt loam has latterly been occupied for agri- 

 cultural purposes through practically its entire extent, and there are 

 few soils within the United States which annually bear such a high 

 proportion of tilled and cultivated crops as this soil. Throughout 

 its extent, approximately 90 per cent of the Marshall silt loam may 

 be classed as improved farming land. It is only in its extreme 

 western development under conditions of scarcity of rainfall that any 

 large area of the type is ever used for pasturage purposes. In such 

 96707 Cir. 3211 2 



