126 Glacial and Loess lal Soils. 



hard, compact nature. At about 22 inches this grades into a 

 gravelly till. This soil is very similar to the ^Marshall silt loam, 

 bvit differs from it in having the till nearer the surface. The 

 surface is broken and hilly and the drainage is generally good 

 except in the more level areas. Corn averages about 30 to 35 

 bushels and oats about the same. It is fairly good for hay. This 

 type may be classed as a fair soil for general farming, though less 

 desirable than the Marshall silt loam and requiring more careful 

 treatment. 



12 3 4 



Soil (1) .-.6 13 53 28 



Subsoil (2) ....6 14 48 32 



Acres. 

 McLean County, 111 17, 984 



Shelby silt loam. — A silt or clay loam, from 6 to 10 inches deep, 

 grading into a stiff, dense, impervious clay. Plastic and waxy 

 when wet, friable and loamy when dry. The soil is a dark-gray 

 color; the subsoil is a dark, mottled clay, brown or drab, streaked 

 with blue and red. Known locally as ''the prairie," and occupies 

 level to gently rolling ui:>lands. Supposed to be of loessial origin. 

 The greater part is fairly well drained, but the impervious subsoil 

 causes water to collect on very level areas after heavy rains. 

 Fairly easy to cultivate. Principal crops are hay, corn, oats, and 

 wheat, with millet, Kafir corn, and sorghum as secondary crops. 

 Hay yields from 2 to 3 tons, corn 35 to 40 bushels, wheat 15 to 20 

 Imshels, Kafir corn 20 to 40 bushels, and millet 30 to 40 bushels 

 of seed per acre. The type is a typical grass soil, and large 

 quantities of seed are j^roduced. Fruit also does well, and the 

 l)roduction of apples is of some importance. 



1-2 3 4 



Soil (3) 3 4 74 ly 



Subsoil (3) 4 4 5.5 38 



Acres. 

 Shelby County, Mo 216, 896 



Marion silt loam. — Consists of silt loam of light-brown to white 

 color, with an average depth of 12 inches. Subsoil consists of a 

 hard, stiff silty clay of mottled appearance, locally known as hard- 

 ]>an, the i)red()minating colors being gray, light yellow, and reddish 

 yellow. Between the soil and su])soil occurs a wliite layer of com- 

 pact silt, which crumbles easily between the lingers. Occupies the 



