28 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OP SOILS, 1916. 



Prices for land composed of the typical Peat range from less than 

 $10 an acre to as much as $30 an acre. There are no farmsteads on 

 this land, the buildings being placed on adjoining upland soils. 



Peat^ sandy-subsoil phase. — The Peat, sandy-subsoil phase, con- 

 sists of black peat, containing a small percentage of sand, to a depth 

 of 10 to 18 inches, underlain by a grayish fine sandy subsoil which 

 usually rests upon a sandy substratum. The peaty accumulation 

 ranges in thickness from a deep deposit in some places to a very thin 

 layer next to the upland. The surface material ranges considerably in 

 texture, owing to various admixtures of fine sand. With good 

 drainage and continued cultivation the peaty material would grad- 

 ually be worked into the underlying sand, giving rise to a dark-gray 

 or black sandy surface soil. 



The Peat, sandy-subsoil phase, is not extensive. A few areas lie in 

 the east-central part of the county, where they are associated with 

 larger areas of typical Peat and are either surrounded by or adjacent 

 to the Merrimac loamy fine sand. As in case of the typical Peat the 

 surface of this soil is nearly level and the drainage prevailing poor. 

 The phase in some places occurs on low shelves next to the uplands, 

 and here has slightly better natural drainage. The installation of 

 ditches in the areas of the deeper, typical Peat would materially im- 

 prove the drainage of the sandy-subsoil phase. 



The Peat, sandj'-subsoil phase, supports a native growth similar 

 to that on the typical Peat, except that tamarack and wire grass are 

 almost entirely lacking. The phase is used to a considerable extent 

 for pastures and the cutting of wild hay. Corn and tame grasses are 

 grown to a small extent. The yields of wild hay range from three- 

 fourths to 1^ tons per acre. Corn, tame grasses, and other crops give 

 promise of good yields after the land has been Avell drained. 



This soil where under cultivation may safely be plowed in the fall 

 and prepared long in advance of planting. Harrowing or otherwise 

 loosening the surface soil in the spring aids in warming up the seed 

 bed. 



Prices of Peat, sandy-subsoil phase, have about the same range as 

 for the typical Peat, from less than $10 to about $30 an acre. The 

 phase is usually sold in conjunction with upland soils, and the price 

 depends largely on the state of improvement, the transportation and 

 market facilities, and the nearness to high-priaed lands. 



Peat^ heavy-subsoil phase. — The Peat, heavy-subsoil phase, con- 

 sists of black sandy peat or muck 10 to 18 inches deep, underlain by 

 a grayish, clayey to fine sandy clay subsoil, which rests upon either 

 a clayey or a fine sandy substratum. As in the case of the sandy- 

 subsoil phase, the peaty accumulation is deep in some small areas 

 and very thin in some places next to the uplands. The surface 

 material also varies widely in texture, owing to various admixtures 



