SOIL SURVEY OF ANOKA COUNTY, MINN. 29 



of fine sand and clay. Under good drainage conditions and with 

 continued cultivation the peaty material would gradually disappear, 

 leaving a black, mucky, sandy or clayey material. 



The Peat, heavy-subsoil phase, occurs in association with upland 

 soils of clayey texture or underlain by clayey subsoils, such as the 

 Miami and Gloucester soils. It is of small extent, occurring in a few 

 areas in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the county. 

 The surface is nearly level, with in places a slight slope in the direc- 

 tion of natural drainage. 



A shelflike position of some areas occurs as in the sandy-subsoil 

 phase. Drainage is slightly better here, but as a whole the phase is 

 poorly drained. 



The Peat, heavy-subsoil phase, supports a native growth similar 

 to that on the typical Peat, except that there is practically no tama- 

 rack or wire grass. Some of the phase is being drained. It is used 

 to a considerable extent as pasture and the cutting of wild hay. A 

 small total area is used in growing corn and tame grasses. The 

 yields of wild hay probably average somewhat higher than on the 

 sandy-subsoil phase. When drained it will be more productive and 

 more durable. The land ranges in price from $10 to $30 an acre. 



SUMMARY. 



Anoka County lies southeast of the center of the State of Minne- 

 sota, just north of Minneapolis. The greater part of the county 

 comprises glacial-drift and outwash plains, and has a rolling to 

 nearly level surface. The upland ranges in elevation from 850 to 

 1,060 feet above sea level. The Mississippi River flows in a deep 

 channel along the southwestern boundary of the county, and is bor- 

 dered by a very narrow strip of alluvial land. A large part of the 

 upland is traversed by peaty depressions and marshes. 



The population of Anoka County in 1910 was 12,493. Anoka, the 

 county seat and largest town, had a population of 3,972. The 

 county has excellent railroad facilities. St. Paul and Minneapolis, 

 which are only a few miles from the southern county line, furnish 

 a steady demand for farm products. 



The winters are marked by periods of below-zero weather, alter- 

 nating with periods of thawing. The summers are short and warm. 

 The average growing season is 163 days in length. The annual 

 rainfall, averaging 29.31 inches, is well distributed with respect to 

 the growing season. 



Farming began in Anoka County in 1848, and crop production has 

 shown a steady increase since that year. The census reports nearly 

 one-fourth of the county in cultivation in 1909, the total value of all 

 farm crops produced in that year amounting to $1,118,212. Corn, 



