50 FIELD OPERATIONS OV THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919. 



depth of 24 inches is reached. Below this the subsoil is a light-gray, 

 loose, incoherent very fine sandy loam to very fine sand. The type 

 contains scattered gravel throughout the 3-foot section. The lower 

 subsoil is calcareous. 



The Bridgeport very fine sandy loam is inextensive in this 

 county. It occurs as small scattered bodies in the eastern part. One 

 of the largest areas lies on the south side of Pumpkin Creek, just 

 east of Bighorn Gulch, and a very typical body along the Banner- 

 Morrill County line, east of Chalk Creek. 



The type represents colluvial and alluvial wash from the uplands, 

 greatly modified by wind-blown material from the Ogallala and 

 Arikaree formations. The soil is of comparatively recent origin, as 

 is shown by the uniformity of color and texture throughout the 

 3-foot section. 



Areas of this soil occupy smooth to gently undidating slopes. 

 Drainage is good though not excessive, considering its loose struc- 

 ture. 



Owing to its small extent, the type is not used for cultivated crops 

 in Banner County, but it is all of some value as pasture and hay land. 

 The native vegetation consists of stipa, sand grass, grama grass, 

 buffalo grass, and blackroot. These afford excellent pasturage in 

 all but the driest years. When not grazed, from one-fourth to one- 

 half ton of hay can be obtained from an acre of land. The type will 

 support from 30 to 50 head of cattle per section, the number varying 

 with the growth of the grasses, which is controlled by the rainfall. 



Land of this type sells for $20 to $25 an acre. It rarely forms an 

 entire farm or ranch, so that this is the price it brings in connection 

 with other types. 



The Bridgeport very fine sandy loam is well adapted to farming in 

 a region of light rainfall, and where it occurs in large bodies is a 

 very important agricultural soil. In Morrill County a considerable 

 acrefige of the type under irrigation is being used in the production 

 of sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa. 



CHEYENNE GKAVEI.l.Y SANUY LOAM. 



The surface soil of the Cheyenne gravelly sandy loam consists of 

 about 10 inches of light-brown sandy loam, containing much small 

 gravel. The soil is usually low in organic matter, though the surface 

 6 inches is somewhat darker than the lower portion, as the result 

 of admixture of a small amount of this material. The change in 

 color and texture is very gradual throughout the 3-foot section, but 

 the subsoil below 24 inches is a light grayish brown, loose, gravelly 

 sandy loam containing little or no organic matter. The gravel oc- 

 curring throughout this type is composed of a great variety of crys- 



