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. Eye 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 clover, 
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 
