SOIL SUR\TEY OF BANNER COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 33 



The Rosebud loam sells for $60 to $75 an acre, depending upon its 

 improvements and location. 



As with the Rosebud silt loam the conservation of soil moisture is 

 the most important factor in farming this type. Fall plowing for 

 spring planting and constant stirring of the surface soil should 

 greatly increase the productive power of the land. 



KOSEnVD SILT I.OAM. 



The surface soil of the Rosebud silt loam, which has an average 

 depth of 10 inches, consists of a loose, mellow silt loam containing 

 varying portions of fine sand and very fine sand. The material is 

 usually brown in color, but ranges from light brown to dark brov>m, 

 the shade depending on the content of organic matter. The darker 

 and deeper soils occur on the flatter areas, where weathering is well 

 advanced. The upper subsoil is a light-brown silt loam passing into 

 a yellow or grayish-yellow, almost pure silt. Below about 20 inches 

 it gradually becomes lighter in color and at 24 inches is usually a 

 white to ashy-gray, loose, floury silt or silty clay. This material 

 continues below the 3-foot level. 



The dark layer of the upper subsoil is often slightly compact when 

 undisturbed, but easily reduces to a loose, friable structure. The 

 surface soil has a moderate lime content. The subsoil is calcareous 

 throughout, and the white material forming the lower part is largely 

 composed of lime. Fragments of limestones or calcareous sand- 

 stone are often encountered in the lower subsoil. The partially 

 weathered Arikaree formation underlies the entire type at a depth 

 of 4 to 6 feet, and in the more rolling areas it outcrops in places, 

 giving rise to characteristic white spots on the hillsides. The tj'pical 

 Rosebud silt loam is residual in origin, being derived by weather- 

 ing from the calcareous sandstones of Tertiary age. The weathered 

 products of the White River beds have been included in places, 

 especially along the bluff line bordering the southern table-land. 



The Rosebud silt loam is an extensive soil in Banner County. 

 The largest development is in the southeastern part of the county, 

 on the eroded table-land. Scattering areas lie in the southwestern 

 part of the county. The type generally occurs as large irregular- 

 shaped bodies, cut across by and including soils of several other types. 

 A large area, and one of the most uniform, lies in the vicinity of 

 the Kirk School. A small but very typical body occurs around 

 Flowerfield, in the southwestern part of the county. 



The topography ranges from almost flat to rolling. The large 

 area in the vicinity of the Kirk School has a generally flat surface. 

 By far the greater part of the type, however, occupies a smooth or 

 very gently undulating plain. The most rolling areas occur around 



