44 FIELD OPEEATIOXS OF THE BUEEAU OF SOILS, 1919, 



The type will support from 30 to 40 head of cattle per section 

 when grazed throughout the year and about 80 head when pastured 

 only during the summer months. The yield of hay ranges from one- 

 fourth to one-half ton per acre, depending upon the rainfall. 



Land of this type sells from $20 to $25 an acre. 



The type is as well adapted to dry farming as the Mitchell silt 

 loam and better than any of the Epping soils except the very fine 

 sandy loam, basin phase. It could be easily tilled and cultivated 

 under a wide range of moisture conditions, and by careful manage- 

 ment grain crops would greatly increase the gross income from the 

 type. 



MITCHELL SILT LOAM. 



The surface soil of the Mitchell silt loam is a brown to light gray- 

 ish brown silt loam, 6 to 8 inches deep, containing a relatively high 

 percentage of very fine sand, the texture in a few places approach- 

 ing a very fine sandy loam. The subsoil is somewhat variable 

 in character. Over most of the type it differs little from the soil, 

 becoming slightly lighter in color and haidng a somewhat higher con- 

 tent of very fine sand. In a few places it passes at about 20 inches 

 into a light-gray to gray very fine sandy loam stratum, varying in 

 thickness from 2 to 6 inches, this being underlain by a light-gray silt. 

 Locally the subsoil has a higher silt content than the surface material, 

 being a light-brown, loose, floury silt to silty clay. While the soil 

 and subsoil are rather deficient in organic matter, they contain a 

 higher percentage than the Epping silt loam, as is indicated by their 

 somewhat darker color. Both soil and subsoil are calcareous. 



Only one area of the Mitchell silt loam is mapped in Banner 

 County. This lies in the northeast corner. The surface is flat, 

 gently sloping to the north. It is more nearly and uniformly level 

 than the surface of any other type in the county. It represents col- 

 luvial and wind-blown materials, derived principally from the Brule 

 clay and to a lesser extent from the Gering and Arikaree formations. 

 Stream channels are not well established on this type, but with the 

 low rainfall even the slight slope existing affords excellent drainage. 



The Mitchell silt loam is of little importance in this county ; it is 

 of small extent, and a very small proportion is under cultivation. 

 The native vegetation consists of western wheat grass, grama grass, 

 buffalo grass, and blackroot. These afford excellent pasturage, ex- 

 cept during the driest years. Beef cattle and horses are grazed ex- 

 tensively. 



Of the cultivated crops, wheat, rye, and oats occupy the largest 

 acreages. Some corn is planted. Wheat and rye are the chief cash 

 crops. Oats and corn are fed to stock on the farms where produced. 



The average yield of wheat or rye is about 20 bushels per acre. 



