THE MIAMI SERIES OF SOILS. 29 



is highly esteemed for farming, and wherever the topography is 

 favorable it is regularly cropped. 



Corn is extensively grown upon the Miami loam in all of the areas 

 mapped except in Kewaunee County, Wis., where the acreage is 

 somewhat restricted by a normally short growing season. Elsewhere 

 corn is the chief intertilled crop. The dent varieties are princi- 

 pally grown, although some flint corn is produced in the more north- 

 ern localities. Under average seasonal conditions corn yields from 

 30 to 50 bushels per acre, depending upon the degree of care exercised 

 in the preparation of the land and the tillage of the crop. The gen- 

 eral average for the type is probably about 40 bushels per acre. A 

 large part of the corn crop is harvested for the grain, although there 

 is an increasing tendency to use it for silage. Where grown for 

 silage the yields secured range from about 10 tons to as high as 15 

 or 16 tons per acre. In the dairy districts this use of the crop is 

 becoming general. A corn field on the Miami loam is shown in 

 Plate VI, figure 2. 



The oat crop occupies the largest area among the small grains. 

 Oats are commonly sown following corn in the rotation. The yields 

 obtained range from 30 to 50 bushels per acre under ordinary condi- 

 tions, although a production of 75 bushels per acre has been ob- 

 tained. A large part of this crop is usually fed on the farm, but a 

 portion is sold in some localities. The straw is usually fed or used 

 for bedding. A field of oats on the Miami loam is shown in Plate 

 VII, figure 1. 



Winter wheat is grown on the Miami loam to a small extent in 

 southern Michigan, giving yields of 12 to 30 bushels per acre, with 

 a general average of something less than 18 bushels. The acreage 

 is steadily decreasing. In southeastern Wisconsin barley constitutes 

 an important crop on this soil, and yields of 25 to 30 bushels per 

 acre are commonly obtained. It is probable that the average yield 

 for the type is in the neighborhood of 25 bushels. Rye and buck- 

 wheat are also grown to some extent, giving fair average yields. 



Hay is produced over an extensive acreage on this soil. The most 

 common hay crop consists of a mixture of timothy and elover, 

 although in some cases clover is seeded alone. The yields obtained 

 range from 1£ tons to 2 tons per acre. Where clover is seeded alone 

 it is a common practice to cut the first crop for hay and to mature 

 seed from the second crop. In some localities in Michigan and 

 more generally in southeastern Wisconsin the growing of alfalfa 

 upon the Miami loam has been tried. It is a successful crop over a 

 large part of the type, producing 2£ to 5 tons per acre. It is con- 

 sidered advisable to apply ground limestone at the rate of 1 or 2 

 tons per acre and to inoculate the alfalfa fields. It is also essential 



