SOIL SURVEY OF KIMBALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



17 



character, the differences between the two being due to the more recent 

 origin and lower topographic position of the Laurel. The series is 

 represented in this county by a single type, the ver}' fine sand}' loam. 

 The following table gives the actual and relative extent of the sev- 

 eral types. Their distribution over the county is shown on the 

 accompanying map. 



Areas of different soils. 



SIDNEY GRAVELLY SANDY LOAM. 



The Sidney gravelly sandy loam is a light-brown sandy loam 

 containing a high percentage of fine and coarse gravel, which gives 

 the type a loose, porous structure. There is very little textural 

 difference between the soil and subsoil. The brownish color extends 

 to a depth of 8 to 15 inches, where the material becomes grayish or 

 pale yellowish and is notably more calcareous than at the surface. 

 The gravel consists of both angular and waterworn fragments of the 

 great variety of crystalline rocks contained in the underlying Ogal- 

 lala formation, together with a smaller percentage of white frag- 

 ments of calcareous grit. This type is locally distinguished as 

 " hard-gravel " land, where mostly from crystalline rocks, and " soft- 

 gravel " land, where mainly from calcareous rocks. 



The principal areas of the Sidney gravelly sandy loam lie north and 

 west of Kimball, on the north side of Lodgepole Creek, but smaller 

 areas are widely distributed throughout the county. The type oc- 

 curs as ragged patches and irregularly outlined belts conforming in 

 a general way to the direction of the drainage lines, and occupies 

 isolated knolls and low ridges. 



The topography is rolling and hilly, and in general the land is 

 characterized by steeper slopes and a more gullied surface than the 

 loam and silt loam types of this series. 



The type is porous, is not retentive of moisture, and is poorly 

 adapted to farming in a region of light rainfall. The character of 

 the topography also is unfavorable for extensive farming. It sup- 

 ports a fairly thick growth of grama, buffalo, black-root, and bunch 



