20 
SOIL SURVEY OF BUFFALO COUNTY. 
Buckwheat, rye, and sorghum are produced on this soil, but 
their acreage is never large. Alfalfa is successfully grown by a 
few farmers and the acreage will no doubt be gradually increased, 
as the crop provides excellent feed, which is of great value, 
especially to the dairy farmers. Potatoes are grown for home 
use on practically every farm, but seldom on a commercial scale. 
Tobacco is grown to a small extent, but the crop is not increasing 
in favor. Beans and peas are not extensively grown on this type, 
being confined chiefly to soils of lighter texture. Garden crops, 
such as strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, and cucumbers, 
and bush berries all do well and are grown for home use, but 
seldom on a commercial scale. 
The rotation of crops most commonly followed on the Knox 
silt loam consists of a small-grain crop, such as oats, barley, or 
wheat, with which clover and timothy are seeded, hay being cut 
for two years, after which the land is plowed for corn. A field 
may be pastured for a year, but on account of the large amount 
of steep land on most of the farms such land is used for pasture 
and the hay fields are not often grazed. 
When the soil is cultivated under the proper moisture condi¬ 
tions but little difficulty is experienced in securing a good seed 
bed. If handled when too wet there is danger of puddling. 
Where the clay loam subsoil is near the surface or exposed on 
the narrow ridge tops, cultivation is more difficult than on the 
broad ridges where the surface soil has a good depth. Because 
of the rather low organic-matter content, the type is somewhat 
less loamy than some of the other silt loams. Practically the only 
fertilizer used on this soil is stable manure. A second crop of 
clover may be plowed under, but the practice of green manuring 
is not at all common. Fall plowing is practiced to some extent, 
and this is advisable where there is but little danger from ero¬ 
sion, but on slopes which are apt to wash it is better to plow in 
the spring. 
W hile farming is well developed on this type and most farmers 
are prosperous, there is considerable room for improvement. 
Land of this type has a considerable range in value, depending 
upon location, improvements, and the character of the surface. 
The best improved farms, conveniently located, and with a large 
proportion of their acreage on the broadest ridge tops, range in 
value from $75 to $100 an acre. Most farms include land of the 
steep phase of this type, and many include some Rough stony 
