SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 21 



Most tenants prefer the share rent system, cash rent being paid 

 for pasture hind. On the share rent basis the owner generally re- 

 ceives one-half of the crops, delivered at the elevator. The work 

 stock and farm implements are furnished by the tenant. In addition 

 cash is paid for pasture land. "\Miere farms are rented for cash the 

 ordinary rates range from $7 to $15 per acre, depending on location 

 of farm and the character of drainage and general improvements. 

 For a few of the very highly improved farms a rental as high as $20 

 per acre is paid. Pasture and hay land rent for $5 to $7 an acre. 



Recently sufficient farm labor has not been available, particularly 

 during the harvest time and the corn-husking season. Most of the 

 farm help is hired by the year. At the present time (1918) from 

 $40 to $50 per month is paid, including boarcl and washing. A few 

 farms are reported paying as high as $60 to $G5. During the grain- 

 harvest season the wages range from $3.50 to $5 per day; for corn 

 plowing $3 to $3.50; haying $4 to $4.50; and for thrashing from 

 $4.50 to $5. Corn buskers are paid from 6 to 7 cents per bushel. 



The price of land is quite variable over the county. An unpre- 

 cedented rise in values took place between March 1 and September 1, 

 1918. Some farms sold during the latter part of that season brought 

 twice the price asked in March. All improved lands increased in 

 value from $50 to $100 an acre. The most highly improved farms 

 lying close to the larger towns can now (1919) be bought for $325 

 to $400 an acre, well-improved farms 6 to 8 miles from town for 

 $225 to $275 an acre, and poorly drained upland, with practically 

 no improvements, and some of the lighter sandy soils for $160 to 

 $200 an acre. The average value of well-improved land is between 

 $250 and $300 an acre. 



SOILS. 



The material from which the soils of "Wright County are derived 

 is drift of the Wisconsin glaciation. This deposit consists of more 

 or less finely ground rock, sand, gravel, and bowlders formed by 

 the action of the ice on the underlying limestone, sandstone, and shale 

 formation. The till plain, which comprises the smoother parts of 

 the area, is covered by material spread out and packed by the 

 glacier in its passage over the region. This drift approaches a loam 

 in texture. The morainic hills in the eastern part of the area are 

 composed of more variable materials. The finer materials predomi- 

 nate, but pockets of sand, gravel, and bowlders occupy the crests of 

 the highest elevations. Beds of gravel outcrop in places on the 

 steeper slopes. The unmodified drift is a yellow or gray compact 

 mass quite retentive of moisture. Limestone fragments and finer 

 particles from the same source form a large proportion of the 

 material. 



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