26 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919. 



about 30 inches into a light-gray or white floury silt loam, similar to 

 that of the Rosebud silt loam. The change in color between the soil 

 and subsoil is in most places gradual. The surface soil and upper 

 subsoil are only slightly calcareous, but the lower stratum contains a 

 high percentage of lime. 



The type occurs as small isolated bodies in the southern part of 

 the county. It occupies shallow depressions in an otherwise flat 

 country. The soil has been derived from the sandstones and clays 

 of the underlying formations, weathered under conditions of poor 

 drainage. This process has resulted in the concentration of clay in 

 the subsoil and in the removal of much of the lime from the soil and 

 upper subsoil. The topography is flat to very gently undulating. 

 Local drainage has not been established, but owing to the light rain- 

 fall water seldom accumulates on the surface. 



The type is of such small extent that it is not important in Banner 

 County. It is all used for pasture and hay land. The native vegeta- 

 tion consists of western wheat grass, -grama grass, buffalo grass, and 

 a sedge, blackroot. These yield from one- fourth to three- fourths ton 

 of hay per acre, depending upon the season, and supply grazing for 

 40 to 50 head of cattle per section throughout the year. 



The land is valued at $60 to $75 an acre, the price depending upon 

 improvements and location. 



The Dunlap silt loam, when occurring in areas of large extent, as 

 in Box Butte, Dawes, and Cheyenne Counties, is one of the most valu- 

 able dry-land farming soils of the High Plains region. 



EOSEBtTn GEAVELLY SANDY LOAM. 



The Rosebud gravelly sandy loam is a brown to light-brown loose 

 sandy loam, generally containing relatively large proportions of 

 coarse sand and gravel. The gravel consists of both angular and 

 waterworn fragments of many different crystalline rocks found in the 

 underlying sandstone formations. The gravel particles are of various 

 sizes, ranging from small pebbles to pieces 2 or 3 inches in diameter. 

 The surface 6 inches is often slightly darker in color than the rest of 

 the soil, owing to an accumulation of organic matter. There is very 

 little textural difference between the soil and subsoil. The brownish 

 color of the surface soil extends to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, where 

 the material becomes grayish or light brownish and is notably more 

 calcareous than at the surface. 



Along the south county line a few bodies of the type depart con- 

 siderably from the typical description, as the fragments of crystal- 

 line rocks become less numerous and light-colored calcareous rock 

 fragments predominate. A\^ere these are especially numerous the 

 type approaches the Rosel^ud yery fine sandy loam, shallow phase. 

 There is generally a sufficient amount of coarse sand and gravel, how- 



