30 BULLETIN 142, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



that the land be well drained in both the soil and subsoil. There has 

 been a considerable increase in the acreage of this crop on the Miami 

 loam during the past few years, chiefly on the dairy farms of 

 southern Michigan and in the southeastern counties of Wisconsin. 



Several special crops are grown to some extent upon the Miami 

 loam. It is probable that the acreage of beans is largest among 

 these crops in southern Michigan. The navy beans are grown, 

 giving yields of 12 to 30 bushels per acre, with an average of about 

 20 bushels. Plate VII, figure 2, shows a good field of beans on this 

 type. In localities near sugar factories some sugar beets are pro- 

 duced on the Miami loam. The yields range from 7 to 12 tons per 

 acre, and the quality of the beets is good. The areas of the type 

 which are well supplied with organic matter are better suited to this 

 crop than the lighter colored areas. 



Nearly every farm upon the type produces sufficient potatoes for 

 home use, but the crop is not grown on a commercial scale to any 

 extent. The yields range from 65 to 150 bushels per acre, the aver- 

 age being about 100 bushels per acre. The type is well adapted 

 to the commercial production of this crop. 



Under favorable climatic conditions the Miami loam is fairly well 

 suited to the production of fall and winter varieties of apples. 

 Many farms include small orchards of standard varieties which sup- 

 ply home needs. In southwestern Michigan the more rolling areas 

 of the type are utilized for commercial orchards. Peaches also are 

 grown successfully near the shore of Lake Michigan on the Miami 

 loam. Recently grapes have been grown with success on this type 

 in Cass County, Mich. The more rolling areas of the Miami loam, 

 possessing good soil and air drainage, are available for orchard 

 development, especially within the section of southwestern Michi- 

 gan, where the climate is most favorable owing to the proximity of 

 the lake. 



The dairy industry constitutes an important branch of farming 

 upon the Miami loam. In all areas where it has been encountered 

 the chief use of the hay and grain crops is for feeding to dairy cattle. 

 A good dairy herd is shown in Plate VIII, figure 1. The milk pro- 

 duced is either sold to city markets or made into butter or cheese at 

 local factories. In some localities beef cattle are fattened from the 

 products of this soil. Hogs are generally raised in connection with 

 the dairy and beef cattle industries, and large numbers are mar- 

 keted each year. Some sheep are kept, especially in the section 

 where beans constitute a staple crop, the bean straw and cull beans 

 being used for feed. 



In general the farms on the Miami loam present an appearance 

 of prosperity. The farm buildings are well built and well main- 

 tained. On the average dairy or stock-feeding farm the buildings 



