LIGHT COLORED FINE SANDY LOAM SOILS 
39 
lighter textured higher places are apt to suffer at times from 
drought. 
Origin .—This is largely an alluvial soil, the materials having 
been deposited by the streams when flowing at a much higher 
level than at present. It is noncalcareous and the type is now 
slightly acid. 
Native Vegetation .—A forest, largely oak, with some elm and 
soft maple in the lower places, originally grew on this soil. The 
growth was rather open, with grass among the trees. Some por¬ 
tions of the type were originally in a semiprairie condition. 
Present Agricultural Development A —By far the greater pro¬ 
portion of the Plainfield fine sandy loam is under cultivation. It 
is considered a good farming soil. The chief crop grown is corn, 
which yields 45 to 50 bushels an acre. Oats yield 35 to 40 
bushels an acre and barley about 30 bushels. A small acreage of 
wheat is grown and yields of 20 to 25 bushels an acre are 
obtained. The yields given above are for the average develop¬ 
ment of the type. On the more sandy tracts they are somewhat 
lower, and on the areas of heavier texture they are higher than 
indicated. This is especially true of corn. Timothy and clover 
are grown and alfalfa has been tried, but not extensively. Pota¬ 
toes do well on this class of soil, and it would seem that this crop 
could well be grown more extensively. 
Land of this type sells for $35 to $40 an acre, depending upon 
location, improvements, etc. 
LINTONIA FINE SANDY LOAM. 
The surface soil of the Lintonia fine sandy loam consists of 10 
inches of light-brown or grayish-brown fine sandy loam which 
contains only a comparatively small amount of organic matter 
and which is acid in some places. The subsoil is a yellowish- 
brown, compact fine sandy loam to a depth of 24 to 30 inches, 
where the texture and color usually become lighter. In a few 
instances a layer of compact clay loam was found at 24 inches. 
This lighter material, which would be classed as a loamy fine 
sand in most instances, extends to 36 or 40 inches or even deeper, 
where stratified fine sand is usually found. The terraces upon 
which-this soil is found are often 25 to 30 feet high, and in such 
places this stratified material extends at least to this depth. 
*For chemical composition and management see page 41. 
