SOIL SURVEY OF PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA. 



37 



Nearly aQ this land is under cultivation. Corn and oats are the 

 principal crops. Marsh hay, formerly the chief crop, is still cut from 

 a few fields. Timothy and clover are grown, and cattle, usually the 

 beel type, are pastured. Corn and oats yield about 40 bushels per 

 acre in well-drained fields, but the yields depend largely on the 

 season. The yield of timothy or clover hay is about 1^ tons per 

 acre. 



This land is new and strong and the farmers have given Uttle 

 attention to fertilizing it or maintaining its productiveness. In the 

 shghtly mucky areas some potash has been used in growing corn. 



Most of the Maumee silty clay loam is held for $100 to $150 an 

 acre. 



More thorough drainage is the main need of this land. Although 

 outlets are now provided, many fields need tiling to hasten the re- 

 moval of water, so that crops may be seeded early arid cultivated 

 regularly. The rotation of crops, including the legumes, is beneficial 

 on this soil. 



The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of- 

 samples of the soil, subsoil, and lower subsoil of the Maumee silty 

 clay loam : 



Mechanical analyses of Maumee silty clay loam. 



HOMER SILT LOAM. 



The Homer silt loam consists of a hght-gray to brownish-gray 

 rather compact silt loam to a depth of about 8 inches, where a light- 

 gray to white silt loam subsurface layer is encountered. The sub- 

 soil, which begins at 12 to 16 inches, consists of light-gray or drab, 

 more or less mottled with yellow and brown, heavy, plastic clay. 

 Some color variations occur. Accumulations of organic matter in 

 places make the surface soil somewhat darker, while in other places 

 the entire soil section is a very light-gray. More yellow occurs in 

 the subsoil, in the zone of transition between the Homer silt loam 

 and the Lucas soils. 



The soil materials giving rise to this type consist of heavy lake- 

 bed deposits, entirely free from »tone. The substratum is a heavy 

 compact clay, calcareous at a depth of 5 or 6 feet, where Ume con- 

 cretions are foimd. 



