SOIL SURVEY OF BANXER COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 31 



extensively on this phase, and some yucca is encountered on the 

 more exposed points. In the rougher sections scrub pine occasionally 

 occurs, though areas supporting tree growth are generally sufficiently 

 dissected to be classed with Eough broken land. The grazing of 

 beef cattle is the chief industry. From 8 to 12 acres is sufficient 

 to pasture one cow or steer throughout the year, provided hay is fed 

 during severe weather. 



The land is valued at $12 to $15 an acre, depending upon improve- 

 ments and distance from markets. 



EOSEBUD LOAM. 



The soil of the Rosebud loam consists of 8 to 10 inches of dark 

 grayish brown to brown mellow loam. It is fine in texture, contain- 

 ing a relatively high percentage of silt and only a small proportion of 

 coarser materials, except in local spots where gravel has rolled down 

 from more elevated types or been brought to the surface by burrowing 

 animals. The surface soil is high in organic matter and the upper 

 6 inches is usually darker in color than the subsurface layer, owing 

 to a concentration of this material. The color gradually becomes 

 lighter with depth and apparently there is little organic matter below 

 24 inches, at which depth there is a rather abrupt change to the 

 light-gray or almost white, loose, floury subsoil so characteristic of 

 the heavier Rosebud types. In a few places the upper subsoil con- 

 tains a higher percentage of coarse particles than the surface ma- 

 terial, and numerous white gravelly fragments of calcareous rock 

 and considerable coarse sand is encountered in the lower subsoil. The 

 type has been derived from the disintegration and decomposition 

 of the underlying rock formations. 



The Rosebud loam is a very extensive soil on the table-land in 

 the southern part of the county. The largest development is in the 

 southwestern part, where it is the principal soil. In the south- 

 central and southeastern parts the type occurs as scattered irregular 

 shaped bodies, varying in size from a few acres to several square 

 miles. The type is not uniform over large areas and includes many 

 bodies of other soils within its boundaries. 



The topography is gently rolling to undulating, with occasional 

 small almost flat areas. Some of the smaller areas occur as shallow 

 depressions around the heads of draws. 



All the areas have good though not excessive surface drainage and 

 underdrainage. They are not subject to erosion. 



The Rosebud loam is the most important agricultural soil in Ban- 

 ner County. It is friable and well suited to farming under semiarid 

 conditions. About 50 per cent of it is under cultivation and the 

 remainder is used for pasture and hay land. The native vegetation 

 includes, grama, buffalo, wire grass, western wheat grass, and black- 



