44 
SOIL SURVEY OF BUFFALO COUNTY. 
formed. The material composing the type is in an acid condi¬ 
tion, as indicated by the litmus-paper test. 
The original timber growth on this type consisted chiefly of 
scattered scrubby oak. Coarse grasses and sand burs are also 
found growing on the type, though there are a number of places 
where the surface is bare of vegetation and the soil is now drift¬ 
ing. 
On account of its loose, open character and the resulting 
droughty condition, its low content of organic matter, and the 
fact that, it is subject to drifting in places, this soil has a low agri¬ 
cultural value. While most of it is cleared, there is a consider¬ 
able proportion which is not farmed because of the small yields. 
Corn produces 20 bushels per acre where the rainfall is well dis¬ 
tributed, but the crop if often a failure. Rye produces 8 to 12 
bushels, and buckwheat 10 to 12 bushels an acre. Grass and 
clover are not successfully grown, and the coarse, wild grasses 
supply little pasturage. Potatoes are not grown extensively, and 
the yields are small. A portion of the type in section 19, Man- 
ville Township, is better than the average. Here corn frequently 
produces 30 bushels and buckwheat as much as 30 bushels an 
acre during favorable years. # 
The selling price of most of the land of this type ranges from 
$10 to $15 an acre. The heavy phase, indicated above, has a 
somewhat higher value. 
WAUKESHA GRAVELLY SANDY LOAM. 
The type mapped as Waukesha gravelly sandy loam is of very 
small extent and of minor importance in the present survey. It 
occurs in two separate tracts which have a somewhat different 
texture. That just northwest of Cochrane has a surface soil 
which consists of 12 to 16 inches of black or dark-brown loam. 
This contains a considerable quantity of coarse, rounded sand 
particles, and in a number of places the surface soil is a sandy 
loam. There is usually sufficient clay present to make the soil 
sticky when wet. The subsoil consists of a yellowish sandy loam 
to about 24 to 30 inches, where rounded, rather fine gravel is en¬ 
countered. This bed of stratified gravel and coarse sand is com¬ 
pact and difficult to penetrate with the soil auger. 
*For chemical composition and management see page 48. 
