48 FIELD OPERATTOi^S OF THE BUEEAU OF SOILS, 1919. 



The soil is not important agriculturally on account of its small 

 extent and low-moisture retaining power. It is all used as pasture 

 and hay land. The native vegetation consists largely of stipa and 

 sand grasses, with which there is a small admixture of grama grass. 

 The type is capable of supporting from 25 to 35 head of cattle per 

 square mile throughout the year, or about twice that number when 

 grazed only during the summer season. The native grasses yield 

 one-fourth to one-half ton of hay per acre, depending upon the 

 rainfall. 



The Bridgeport sandy loam sells for $15 to $25 an acre. It is 

 usually sold in connection with surrounding soils. 



It is possible to cultivate part of the tj'^pe and by careful manage- 

 ment fairly good crops could be obtained. The soil should be 

 plowed and seeded early, however, as there is danger of drifting 

 when the surface is left unprotected. Only the more level areas, 

 where conditions are most favorable for the accumulation of or- 

 ganic matter and moisture, should be cultivated. 



BEIDGEPOKT FINE SANDY LOAM. 



The surface soil of the Bridgeport fine sandy loam is a brown to 

 grapsh-brown, loose, friable fine sandy loam, with an average depth 

 of 10 inches. There is present in most places a relatively large per- 

 centage of very fine sand and a few small, water- worn pebbles. The 

 depth and color of the soil varies with the topography. The imme- 

 diate surface layer is considerably darker than the lower portion, 

 as it contains a larger amount of organic matter. 



Over most of the type the subsoil differs little from the soil, except 

 that it becomes slightly lighter in color and the sand content in- 

 creases with depth. In a few places the material below 30 inches is a 

 light-gray, loose, incoherent, medium to fine sand. Locally numerous 

 small pebbles are encountered below 24 inches. 



The surface soil of this type, while somewhat deficient in organic 

 matter, contains a much larger amount than that of the Bridgeport 

 loamy fine sand, which, together with its larger silt and very fine 

 sand content, gives it greater coherency. The lower subsoil is 

 slightly calcareous. 



The type occurs on both sides of Pum])kin Creek throughout the 

 county. The largest developments are on the south side of the 

 stream. A small area was mapped in the northeastern corner of the 

 county, on the north side of Wild Cat Ridge. The bodies vary in 

 size from a few acres to several square miles. They are relatively 

 continuous and uniform in texture. One of the largest areas occurs 

 about 4 miles north of Harrisburg, on the south side of Pumpkin 

 Creek. A very typical area of much smaller extent lies about 2 miles 

 northwest of Gabe Rock. 



