.'52 FlKLl) OPERATIONS OF THH lU'REAU OF SOILS, HUD. 



iiitd a Iti'owii, iiKHc I'rialilc clax- loam. At dcptlis (if liO to .'iO inches 

 till' sliirlitly o.\i(li/.(Ml glacial till is I'licoiiiitcnMl. It is a li;i;ht-l)i()\vM. 

 yi'llowisli-hrowii, or <rrayish-y('llo\v, I'riaWlc clu}^ loam or silty clay 

 loam. In tlu> rolIin<; ai'cas (he ui)])er two layers are not essentially 

 different iVoni the coi'respondiiii:- horizons <>\' the (^irrin^ton loam. 

 The dill'ert'nce lietweeii the two types is the pivsence of lime in the 

 sul)st)il of the Clarion loam, an indication that leachin<^ and oxidation 

 in the Clarion have not reached to a depth of 3 feet. 



The two soil profiles described as e.xti'emes of the type are the 

 jirodncts of diU'ei'ent sta<res of weatlieiin<; and leac!iin<r. The type 

 passes on the one hand into the A\'el)sti'r loam and on the other 

 hand into the Carrin<;ton loam, but between the two are all grada- 

 tions i-esulting from ditrerences in the drainage. 



Some variation in both soil and subsoil is due to differences in 

 the composition of the original drift. Small (juantities of coarse 

 sand, pebbles, and small Ixjwlders, composed of (juartzite, granite, 

 and limestone are scattered through the soil and subsoil but are 

 usually more abundant in the lower subsoil. With this type, as 

 with the Carrington soils, are included narrow strips on the crests 

 of ridges and on steep liill slopes where the dark-colored surface 

 soil has been eroded away so as to expose the light-colored calcare- 

 ous parent till. Usually near the surface on such areas pockets or 

 beds of sand and gravel are numerous. 



The Clarion loam occurs in all parts of the county, but the areas 

 of the type are larger and more abundant on the gentle slopes to- 

 ward the streams. Areas with the dark-brown surface soil are also 

 found on some of the morainic hills where erosion has not removed 

 the surface soil faster than weathering could take place. 



This tjqoe is highly productive. Before the AVebster soils were 

 drained it was the most valuable soil of the area. The high lime 

 content of the subsoil indicates that it has not been leached l)ut has 

 all its original soluble constituents. Fertilizers are not used, as it 

 has not been demonstrated that the application of any form of plant 

 food is immediately profitable. Over the greater part of the area 

 no lime is needed. It is possible, however, that the surface soil in 

 some places is acid and the application of small (luantities would be 

 beneficial. 



The system of farming on this type is similar to that followed on 

 the Carrington loam. No systematic I'otation of crops is practiced. 

 Corn, the principal crop, is grown for years in succession in the 

 same fields. Clover is less freciuently grown than on the Carring- 

 ton loam. Crop yields are slightly highei' tlian on tlie Carrington 

 loam, but lower on an average than on the well-drained AVebster 

 soils. 



