SOIL SURVEY OF PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA. 23 



to the Hurlburt Ditch, which represents the natural drainage way 

 that doubtless was the fire guard for the timber againet the prairie 

 fires. Isolated areas occur near He])ron, Boone Grove, and Sedley, 

 and south of Burdick. 



In general the topography of the Miami silt loam is gently undu- 

 lating to gently rolling, and is well suited to farming. Some of the 

 type is quite flat. The rougher areas of this soil are mapped as a 

 hilly phase. 



The natural surface drainage is fair to good; underdrainage is 

 poor, owing to the compact nature of the substratum. In many 

 places the drainage has been improved by ditching. Tile drains are 

 not in common use, as they do not seem effective in withdrawing the 

 soil moisture from the dense subsdil. 



The Miami silt loam is one of the most extensive and important 

 types of the county. Probably 90 per cent is now under cultivation, 

 and some of the land has been used more than 80 years. It origi- 

 nally supported a heavy growth of white, black, and red oak, hickory, 

 walnut, and other trees. The principal crops are corn, oats, hay, 

 and wheat, and nearly every farm maintains a dairy herd. Usually 

 the whole milk is shipped to Chicago markets. Some hogs and a 

 few beef cattle are kept. Rye, buckwheat, and potatoes are crops 

 of minor importance. Corn yields 30 to 40 bushels, oats 25 to 35 

 bushels, hay 1| tons, and wheat about 18 bushels per acre. On 

 well-improved land in good seasons these yields are greatly exceeded. 

 Corn is likely to suffer in wet seasons, and wheat may winterkill in 

 severe winters. 



Farming on this type usually is designed to build up the produc- 

 tiveness of the soil and to keep it in good physical condition. The 

 rotations generally include corn, oats, wheat, and clover and timothy. 

 Either the wheat or oats may be omitted, and if a good stand of 

 clover is not obtained the land may be put in some other crop. A 

 part of the corn crop is used for ensilage, which constitutes an im- 

 portant part of the feed for dairy cows and other stock. 



Relatively small quantities of commercial fertilizer are used on 

 this land, largely because there is so much manure available. It is 

 recognized that the soil is primarily in need of organic matter and 

 nitrogen. Bone meal and acid phosphate are the chief fertilizers 

 bought. 



The average value of farms consisting largely of the Miami silt 

 loam is about $140 an acre. Well-improved farms are held for higher 

 prices, and some land of the type can be bought for less. 



As this soil is slightly acid, the use of lime is beneficial, especially 

 where clover is grown. Surface and tile drainage should be extended 



Miami silt loam, hilly phase. — Tlie hilly phase of the Miami silt 

 loam is almost identical with the main type in the soil section and 



