THE MIAMI SERIES OF SOILS. 55 



range from about 1£ tons per acre in more southern localities to If 

 tons in southern Wisconsin. The deep phase of the type is one of the 

 best hay soils in the Central States. Winter wheat is extensively 

 grown on the Miami silt loam in Ohio and Indiana, and constitutes 

 the chief small-grain crop in the more southern locations. The yields 

 range from 12 to 30 bushels per acre and statistics of production indi- 

 cate that wheat on this soil will average from 16 to 17 bushels per 

 acre over large areas through considerable periods of time. It is evi- 

 dent that the acreage of wheat grown upon this type is being reduced 

 somewhat, and it is claimed that the yields have decreased. It is 

 probable that the greater profits secured from the production of corn 

 have contributed to the restriction of wheat production. Barley is 

 grown to some extent on this soil in southern Wisconsin, giving an 

 average yield of 20 bushels or more per acre. Several special crops 

 have been grown with success in different areas of the Miami silt 

 loam. In central Indiana tomatoes are produced for canning, giving 

 a fair tonnage of late tomatoes. Beans are grown to a limited extent 

 in southern Wisconsin. In this region some tobacco also is grown. 

 Nearly all farms upon the type produce sufficient potatoes for home 

 use, but the growing of this crop on a commercial scale is not prac- 

 ticed. Sugar beets are grown in southern Wisconsin, giving large 

 yields of beets of fair quality. The better drained areas of the Miami 

 silt loam in southern Wisconsin have been found to be well suited to 

 growing alfalfa. This crop produces from 2-| to 5 tons per acre. 



In all of the more southern localities of its occurrence the Miami 

 silt loam is chiefly used for the production of grain and hay. In 

 part these crops are fed to beef cattle and to hogs, while a part of 

 the grain is sold. In the more northern regions a profitable dairy 

 business is developed on the basis of the large acreage of hay and 

 pasture maintained on the type, supplemented by the use of corn 

 as silage. The crops sold are chiefly the small grains. In general, 

 the type of farming and the character of the crops grown vary to 

 a considerable degree with climatic conditions. 



Approximately 75 per cent of the total area of the Miami clay 

 loam which has thus far been mapped occurs in western Ohio and 

 central Indiana. It is certain that from 50 to 80 per cent of the 

 total area of many of the counties in this section is occupied by this 

 soil and the closely related Miami silt loam. The dominance of 

 the type is so marked that the general agricultural practices of the 

 section may be correlated with this soil with a reasonable degree 

 of accuracy. A study of the statistics of crop production in this 

 region shows that the area annually devoted to corn growing is 

 double that given to any other single crop. It is only slightly less 

 than the combined acreage of hay, oats, and wheat, the three next 

 most important crops. This section has a growing season of 160 



