DARK COLORED UPLAND SOILS. 
27 
CHAPTER III. 
DARK COLORED UPLAND SOILS. 
WAUKESHA SILT LOAM. 
Description .—The surface soil of the Waukesha silt loam to 
a depth of 12 to 18 inches consists of a dark-brown or black silt 
loam containing a high percentage of organic matter. Its high 
percentage of silt and organic matter gives the soil an extremely 
smooth feel. The subsoil consists of a brown or buff-colored silt 
loam, which gradually becomes heavier in texture and lighter in 
color and at 24 to 30 inches consists of a yellowish-brown, com¬ 
pact, heavy silt loam or silty clay loam. In local areas where the 
drainage is deficient the subsoil shows a slight mottling of light 
gray or drab. This heavy subsoil extends to a considerable depth 
and the soil section will probably average 7 to 8 feet in thick¬ 
ness. Below this heavy mantle are to be found stratified beds of 
sand. Along the Mississippi and Buffalo Rivers and Farrington 
Creek some glacial gravel may also be found with the sand. 
Extent and Distribution .—The largest areas of this soil occur 
in Little and Big Waumandee Valleys, where it is most typically 
developed. In the vicinity of Anchorage the black soil occupies 
most of each valley for a distance of 6 or 7 miles. The area varies 
in width from one-fourth to three-fourths of a mile. A compara¬ 
tively extensive area is mapped also at the mouth of Schultz and 
Newton Valleys west of Mondovi and in Farmington Valley 
northwest of Mondovi. Strips of this type about one-fourth mile 
in width and from 1 mile to 3 miles in length are found in a 
great many of the smaller tributary valleys scattered over the 
county. 
Topography and Drainage .—The surface of the Waukesha silt 
loam is level or has a very gentle slope toward the streams along 
which it occurs. In places it occupies a distinct terrace and lies 
about 6 to 10 feet above the present flood plain of the stream, 
while in other places it occupies an entire valley floor through 
