SOIL SURVF.Y OF BANNER COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 61 



The best farmers attempt to follow the natural adaptation of soils 

 to crops in planting. The prevailing methods of agriculture are 

 generally applicable to dry-farming conditions, except that no defi- 

 nite rotation is followed and most of the farm manure is wasted. 

 Nearly all the farms have the necessary equipment. 



Farm labor is rather scarce during the busy season, and most of the 

 farmers use their own efforts and those of the family to carry on the 

 work. Good wages are paid for farm labor. 



In 1910 there were 368 farms in the county, with an average size of 

 863.5 acres. Most of the farms range in size from 160 to 640 acres. 

 The great majority of the farmers and ranchers operate their own 

 farms. The cash and crop-rental systems are equally followed in the 

 case of leased farms. Land values range from $12 to $75 an acre. 



The soils of Banner County may be grouped into four main divi- 

 sions: (1) Residual soil, (2) colluvial and alluvial fan soils, (3) 

 alluvial or stream deposited soils, and (4) eolian or v/ind-blown 

 soils. Ten soil series, embracing 26 soil types, are recognized in 

 Banner County. 



The Rosebud series is quite extensive. It occurs chiefly in the 

 southern part of the county. The loam and silt loam types are well 

 adapted to the production of small grain. 



The Dunlap silt loam is of very small extent and is mostly used 

 for pasture land. It is a fertile, strong soil, however, and where it 

 occurs in areas of large extent, is one of the best dry-farming soils 

 in the High Plains region. 



The Epping soils occur chiefly in the Pumpkin Creek Valley. The 

 heavier members, including the silt loam and very fine sandy loam, 

 are well adapted to dry farming. The lighter textured types, how- 

 ever, are somewhat droughty and subject to drifting when left un- 

 protected. 



The Valentine soils are chiefly used for the production of hay and 

 as pasture land. The loamy fine sand type is low in organic matter 

 and blows badly when the protective covering of grasses is removed. 



The Mitchell silt .loam and very fine sandy loam types are inex- 

 tensive in Banner County and are of little agricultural importance. 



The Bridgeport soils occupy the alluvial and colluvial fan slopes 

 in the Pumpkin Creek Valley. The fine sandy loam is the most im- 

 portant type of this series. 



The Cheyenne soils are developed in the high terraces along the 

 larger intermittent drainage waj^s. Most of the types are of a 

 droughty nature on account of the loose, porous subsoil. 



The Tripp soils are of relatively small extent in this county. They 

 are well adapted to grain growing. 



The Scott silt loam occupies small depressions and basins in the 

 table-land forming the southern part of the county. The soil is of 



