38 Fii:i.n opERATioi^rs of thk bureau of son.s, 1919. 



A luxiiriimt <;r()\vtli of l>lii('<irass over most of tliis area furnishes 

 oxccllont pasturat^e. Flowin«r wells can be obtained at most points 

 in this type. 



WAHASH SII.TY CI.AY I.OAM. 



Tlic snrfaco soil of tiie Wabash silty clay loam c'(msists of 8 inches 

 of (lark-brown to black heavy ^^ilty clay loam, havin<r a faint grayish 

 cast. The subsoil is a dark-brown tenacious clay loam to clay, 

 mottled with j^ray. 



This type occui)ies poorly drained (h'aws and depressions through- 

 out the Wabash loam areas. The total extent is small, and agi-i- 

 cnltni-ally the type is unimportant. Shallow water covers the 

 smaller areas during the spring season. Along the upper course 

 of Otter Creek, where the stream channel is only a few feet deep, 

 calcareous material is encountered within tlie ;^-foot section. Prac- 

 tically all of this type is used as pasture land, but a little wild hay 

 is cut from a part of it. 



The Peat soil to a depth of 10 to 18 inches consists chiefly of 

 decomposed vegetable matter, forming a loose, spongy mass. The 

 surface is light brown to reddish brown when dry, but dark brown 

 under normal conditions. The underlying subsoil is a layer of black 

 tenacious silty clay loam, varying from 10 inches to 2 feet in thick- 

 ness. This is underlain generally within the 3-foot depth by a 

 grayish sandy clay to clayey sand. Both subsoil layers are highly 

 calcareous. Small white shells and lime particles are present on the 

 surface of the shallower beds. 



The natural develojiment of the Peat is in shallow undrained 

 basins, ponds, or lakes, in which a dense growth of sedges, rushes, 

 and other aquatic plants abound. The decay and accumulation of 

 the plant leaves and fibrous roots form a loose, porous, semidecom- 

 posed vegetable mat. In this raw stage it is of no agricultural value. 



The Peat areas in the county have nearly all been drained, many 

 of them only a short time. In some of the large areas the accumula- 

 tions are 4 to 5 feet deep near the center of the basin. As a rule, 

 the depth does not exceed '20 to 24 inches, and in many areas of smaller 

 size the layer has a thickness of only 6 to 14 inches. A considerable 

 proportion of silt and clay is found mixed with the vegetable matter 

 in the smaller areas. 



The Peat is widely distributed over the county, in areas ranging 

 in size from one to several hundred acres. The two largest areas 

 are located 1| miles west of Dows and onedialf mile east of Wall 

 Lake. Patches too small to map occur in wet draws and small 

 depressions on many farms in the heavier black soil areas. 



