22 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUEEAU OF SOILS, 1916. 



series. The topography also is favorable to an extensive type of 

 farming. In the deeper basins the soil is usually more compact and 

 more closely resembles the Scott silt loam, calcareous phase. 



All the type is arable, and it is probably better adapted to farming 

 than any other soil in the county under the prevailing climatic con- 

 ditions. At present, however, probably less than 20 per cent of the 

 land is under cultivation. Wheat is the principal crop, followed by 

 oats and corn. Rye, barley, millet, amber cane, alfalfa, and emmer 

 are grown in small patches and in an experimental way. Yields of 

 as much as 35 bushels of wheat per acre have been obtained under 

 favorable conditions where the land has been properly prepared and 

 seeded at a favorable time. The average yield, however, for a period 

 of years is probably about 10 bushels. On account of the climatic 

 conditions corn does not often mature properly, and the yields are 

 low. Oats attain sufficient growth to furnish hay nearly every year, 

 and in favorable seasons yields of 30 to 40 bushels of grain per acre 

 are obtained. 



The soil has a friable, loamy structure when it contains a normal 

 amount of moisture and is easily plowed and prepared for small 

 grain, but it tends to become hard after long droughts. 



In its natural condition this type supports a thick groAvth of 

 grasses, principally grama grass and buifalo grass, which afford good 

 grazing both in summer and in winter. In the lower situations the 

 grasses attain sufficient height to be cut for hay. 



This land has a selltng price of about $20 an acre. 



SCOTT SILT LOAM, CALCAREOUS PHASE. 



The upper soil of the Scott silt loam, calcareous phase, is a light- 

 brown or dark-gra}'^ silt loam, generally high in silt and containing 

 very little coarse material. This stratum has a moderately compact 

 structure. At a depth of 4 to 8 inches the material passes into a 

 light-brownish silty clay loam, which is very compact in structure 

 and like hardpan. At depths varying from 20 to 24 inches this layer 

 becomes gray or drab, coarser in texture, and more friable in struc- 

 ture. It is almost impossible to bore through the hardpan subsoil 

 with the soil auger, although the material when brought to the sur- 

 face is crumbly and mealy, suggesting that the compact structure 

 may be due more to a cementing by mineral salts than to the con- 

 centration of clay. The soil effervesces freely with acid at a depth of 

 15 to 20 inches, indicating a high lime content in the subsoil. 



Small areas of soil included with this phase are a silty clay loam or 

 clay J, such areas representing a lower lying and more poorly drained 

 variation of the phase. The soil is tougher and more impervious than 

 the silt loam and is locally known as " gumbo." 



