INTRODUCTION 
Before the greatest success in agriculture can be reached, it 
is necessary that the farmer should have a thorough knowledge 
of the soil upon his own farm. A soil may be well adapted to one 
crop, and poorly adapted to another crop. Clover will produce a 
vigorous growth and profitable yields on the average loam soil 
which contains lime and is in a sweet condition; but on a sandy 
soil which is sour, or in an acid condition, clover will not make a 
satisfactory growth. We may say, therefore, that failure is cer¬ 
tain to be invited when such important facts are disregarded, or 
overlooked. The degree of success which it is possible to win on 
any farm is in direct proportion to the practical knowledge pos¬ 
sessed by the farmer concerning the soil and its adaptation to 
crops. A thorough knowledge of the soil is as essential to the 
farmer as a knowledge of merchandise and business methods is to 
the merchant. 
The State of Wisconsin, working in cooperation with the 
United States Department of Agriculture, is making a careful 
study of soils and agricultural conditions throughout Wisconsin, 
and is preparing soil maps and soil reports of all counties in the 
State. A soil map shows the location and extent of the different 
kinds of soil. Tracts of 10 acres and over are mapped, but often 
areas of even smaller extent are shown. The soil map is pre¬ 
pared by trained men, who go over a county thoroughly, and 
examine the soil by making a sufficient number of borings to a 
depth of 36 inches to keep account of all variations. A report is 
also made, to accompany and explain the map, and this is based 
upon a careful study of the soils within the region surveyed, and 
upon such other features as have a direct bearing upon the agri¬ 
culture of the area. 
It is the object of this survey to make an inventory of the soils 
of the State, and to be of practical help to farmers by locating 
and describing the different soils, by determining their physical 
