SOIL SURVEY OF BAXXER COUXTY, NEBRASKA. 57 



mile, along Pumpkin Creek, and represents recent alluviimi, which 

 in many places is still in the process of formation. 



The topography of the type is flat and most of the soil is poorly 

 drained. It lies only 2 or 3 feet above the stream channel and is 

 subject to frequent overflow. Owing to its small extent and poor 

 drainage, it is nearly all included in pasture and hay land, although 

 some alfalfa is grown on the better drained areas. The native vegeta- 

 tion consists of big bluestem grass, grama grass, western wheat grass, 

 and wire grass. A few scattering cottonwood, willow, boxelder, and 

 chokecherry trees occur near the stream channel. The grasses on 

 this type afford better pasturage and more hay than on any of the 

 other soils in the county, on account of the m.ore favorable moisture 

 conditions. From one-half ton to 1^ tons of hay is obtained from 

 each acre in average years. "Where alfalfa can be grown, it yields a 

 total of 2 to 2^ tons per acre, from two cuttings. The price of this 

 land ranges from $20 to $30 an acre. 



It is advisable to keep the areas of the Laurel fine sandy loam in 

 the native grasses, except the land which is sufficiently well drained 

 to produce alfalfa. When planted to crops requiring cultivation, the 

 soil drifts badly and much of the organic matter is removed by the 

 wind. 



LAUREL VBn?Y FIXE SAKDY LOAM. 



The surface soil of the Laurel very fine sandy loam is a grayish- 

 brown, loose friable, very fine sandy loam. 8 to 12 inches deep. The 

 material is rich in organic matter. The upper subsoil is a light-gray 

 to light grayish brown loamy fine sand. In places it is slightly more 

 compact than the surface soil, this condition resulting from a larger 

 silt and clay content. Below 24 inches the subsoil generally becomes 

 a loose, gray fine sand to very fine sand, in many places mottled 

 brown or drab owing to poor drainage. In some places fine gravel 

 and coarse sand are encountered at 30 inches. The subsoil is highly 

 calcareous. 



This type occupies a very small acreage in Banner County, being 

 mapped in onl}^ three small bodies. These are narrow strips along 

 the channel of Pumpkin Creek. The largest and most typical body 

 lies at the mouth of Chalk Creek, in sec. 25, T. 19 N., R. 53 W. The 

 type represents recent alluvium and is still in the process of forma- 

 tion. The topogi^aphy is flat and the drainage poor. The soil lies 

 but a few feet above the nonnal flow of the creek and is subject to 

 inundation with each slight rise. 



The soil is not used for crop production owing to its small extent 

 and poor drainage. It supports an excellent growth of native 

 grasses, however, which, because of the favorable moisture condi- 



