4 BULLETIN 941, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
As a general statement, it may be said that while the soils of the 
area are in the main similar, the amount of soil suitable for cultivation 
varies greatly in the various counties, and in different locations in the 
same county, because of differences in topography. The changes 
from one phase of topography and soil to another occur without 
regularity and with great abruptness. The soils are locally known 
as "highland" or "upland" soils, and "lowland" or "valley" soils. 
The highland soils predominate. The lowlands comprise the bottoms 
and valleys, and their area is very limited. Intermediate between 
these two primary groupings is a class of land neither highland nor 
lowland which is known as "bench" land. (See fig. 3.) 
Fig. 3.— Types of Ozark land. In the upper view one looks down from the surrounding hills on a typical 
river bottom. The lower picture is of a field on what are locally described as "bench" lands. 
LOWLANDS. 
The "valley" or "bottom" soils of the lowlands vary in character. 
The best grade of bottom soil occurs in narrow strips along the rivers 
and creeks. These strips are level and are the best and most fertile 
farming lands of the region. Their extent, in comparison with the 
total land area, is very small. The soils locally classed as "valley" 
lands are, as the name implies, vaUe} T s of varying depth, width, and 
extent, which may be, found scattered throughout the entire region. 
Practically all of the lowlands suitable for cultivation have been in 
