GENERAL AGRICULTURE OF BUFFALO COUNTY 
64a 
The dark Waukesha and Bates soils are known to be better corn 
soils than the lighter colored types, and the Knox silt loam is 
held better adapted to small grains than are the dark soils. Rye 
and buckwheat are confined principally to the sandy types of 
soil, because experience has shown that these soils can be used 
profitably for this crop. 
While crop rotations vary on the different soils throughout 
the county, probably the most common rotation consists of corn 
followed by a small grain, such as oats, barley, rye, or wheat one 
year, or possibly two years, and then seeded to timothy and 
clover. Hay is usually cut for two years. Very often the hay 
field is not pastured, since there is a large area of rough land 
on most farms which is devoted largely to grazing. On the 
sandy soils the ordinary rotation is somewhat different, and may 
consist of one year corn, followed by one year rye seeded to 
clover, followed by corn. On some farms but little thought is 
given to the selection of crop rotations best suited to the condi¬ 
tions, but more attention is each year being given to such mat¬ 
ters, with the result that farm methods are gradually improving 
and yields increasing. 
Stable manure is about the only fertilizer generally used at 
present within the county. Some green manuring is practiced, 
but it is not at all common, and commercial fertilizers are sel¬ 
dom used, except in a small way for special purposes. The 
methods of cultivation followed by the majority of the farmers 
are thorough, and agriculture is highly developed in nearly all 
parts of the county. The Waumandee Valley is considered to be 
one of the richest sections of the county, chiefly because of the 
rather extensive areas of level, black silt loam which are to be 
found there. On the Bates silt loam and fine sandy loam, as 
well as on the Knox and Lintonia silt loams, very fine farms 
are to be found. Special methods of cultivation are frequently 
required in this county, because of the danger of erosion on the 
steep hillsides. These special methods of hillside cultivation are 
covered under the discussion of the various soil types to which 
they refer. 
Of the weed pests which are found in Buffalo County the Can¬ 
ada thistle and quack grass are probably the most troublesome. 
Farm improvements vary with the character of the soil, but 
