24 
SOIL SURVEY OF BUFFALO COUNTY. 
a silty clay loam. Below this depth there is often a considerable 
amount of fine and very fine sand, and this mixture extends to 
a depth of 3 feet or over and grades into stratified fine sand, 
with layers of gravel in the lower depths. The type is subject 
to some variation, and in Glencoe Township and the valley of 
Buffalo River the soil is somewhat darker than typical. 
The soil quite closely resembles the Knox silt loam in texture 
and color, but differs from it in topography, origin, and the 
position which it occupies. 
Extent and Distribution .—The most extensive areas of Lin- 
tonia silt loam are found in the Buffalo River Valley in the 
vicinity of Tell, where terraces of this soil have a width of from 
one-half to three-fourths of a mile, and these frequently extend 
back to tributary valleys for 1 mile to 3 miles. A number of 
areas also occur in Little Bear Creek Valley in the northwestern 
part of the county. Lower Big Waumandee creek valley and 
tributaries, and tributary valleys of the Trempealeau River in 
the southeastern part of the survey also contain quite extensive 
remnants of Lintonia silt loam terraces. 
Topography and Drainage .—The surface of the Lintonia silt 
loam is usually level or nearly so, frequently having a gentle 
slope toward the stream channels along which it occurs. The 
type occurs as terraces, usually rather narrow, but extending 
along the streams for considerable distances. The part adjoining 
the upland rises slowly and frequently grades into the Knox silt 
loam so gradually that the boundary line must be arbitrarily 
placed. Near the Mississippi Valley the terraces of this soil have 
an elevation of 20 to 30 feet above the present flood plain, but as 
the distance back from the Mississippi River increases, the eleva¬ 
tion of the terraces above the flood plain becomes less, and the 
difference finally is not over 4 or 5 feet. As this type is found 
chiefly at the foot of considerably higher lying slopes, which are 
often very steep, large quantities of water must pass over the 
terraces during heavy rains, and as a result deep ravines are 
frequently formed. Such gullies may become a source of great 
expense and loss to individual farms. The natural drainage of 
this type is usually good, but there are a few places where the 
surface is nearly level, and in places over such tracts tile drains 
could be installed to advantage. 
Origin .—The material composing the Lintonia silt loam is 
largely of alluvial origin and was deposited during glacial 
