32 
SOIL SURVEY OF BUFFALO COUNTY. 
Extent and Distribution. —The Bates fine sandy loam is one of 
the minor types of the county, occupying only 2.1 square miles. 
Nearly all of this type is found on the slopes bordering the south 
side of the Buffalo River Valley east of Mondovi. Here it occurs 
as a narrow strip from one-fourth to one-half mile wide, parallel¬ 
ing the valley in an east and west direction for nearly 4 miles. 
Topography and Drainage. —This type occupies the lower por¬ 
tion of a long, gently rolling, residual fine sandy loam slope 
which leads down to the valley from the limestone ridges 3 miles 
south. The surface of the type is gently undulating and nearly 
level in places, but usually has a gentle slope toward the river. 
In a few places it is gently rolling. Because of the texture of the 
soil and the gentle sloping surface, the natural drainage is good, 
and there is no serious danger from erosion. 
Origin. —While the field work was in progress some doubt was 
felt as to whether or not this type was in part an old alluvial 
terrace formation, but because of the undulating to gently roll¬ 
ing surface and the fact that sandstone was found outcropping 
at its lower edge along the river bottom, the soil was mapped 
as an upland type and placed in the Bates series. 
No evidence of stratification in the subsoil was found, although 
the soil section has an average depth to the underlying sandstone 
of 15 to 20 feet. 
Native Vegetation. —The original growth of oak on this type 
was more evenly distributed than on the Bates silt loam, and it 
appears that no portion of the type was in the condition of 
prairie. 
Present Agricultural Development. —Practically all of the 
type is now under cultivation, and it is considered a valuable 
soil. Dairying and hog raising is the leading type of farming, 
and this is carried on in conjunction with general farming. Corn 
produces 50 to 55 bushels, oats 35 to 40 bushels, barley about 25 
bushels, and clover 11/2 to 2 tons per acre. For a long period 
wheat was the most important crop grown on this soil and yields 
of 15 to 18 bushels per acre were obtained. The acreage of wheat 
at present is very small. This is a very good corn soil, ranking 
with the Bates and Waukesha silt loams in this respect. It is 
also well adapted to a number of truck crops, but trucking has 
not been developed to any extent. The soil is easy to cultivate. 
About the same methods are followed as on the silt loam. 
