64b 
SOIL SURVEY OF BUFFALO COUNTY 
as by far the greater proportion of the soil in the county is 
productive most of the farms are well improved, and the build¬ 
ings are substantial and kept in good repair. The best farms 
and buildings are found on the Knox, Waukesha, and Lintonia 
silt loams, and on the Bates silt loam and fine sandy loam. On 
the extremely sandy soils the poor quality of the soil is reflected 
in the buildings, fences, crops, and farm machinery. 
Obtaining farm labor is sometimes difficult, and on account of 
this condition the systems of agriculture followed are often more 
extensive than would otherwise be the case. In many instances 
all of the work is done by the farmer and his family. When a 
man is hired for the entire year the monthly wage is about $25 
to $30.00 with board and washing free. When employed only 
for the summer or the growing season or for haying and harvest¬ 
ing the wage is higher. When married men are employed, a 
house, fuel, and garden patch are often supplied in addition 
to the regular wage. 
According to the census of 1910, 92.8 per cent of the land in 
Buffalo County is in farms, and of this 49 per cent is classed 
as improved. The average size of farms is given as 189 acres and 
the average amount of improved land on each farm is 92 acres. 
Eighty-one per cent of the farms are operated by their owners, 
and considerably over half of these are free from mortgage debt. 
In most cases where land is rented, cash rather than share pay¬ 
ments, are made. 
During the period from 1900 to 1910 the value of lands in 
Buffalo County increased 67.7 per cent. Values vary greatly, 
depending upon the soil, location, improvement, etc. The best 
farms in the county have a selling value of $100 to $150 an acre. 
The poorest farms, on the extremely sandy soils, could probably 
be bought for $10 to $15 an acre. Farms on the Waukesha silt 
loam, Bates silt loam, Bates fine sandy loam, Knox silt loam, and 
Lintonia silt loam have a higher value than those on other types. 
These are recognized as the best soils of the county. The Knox 
silt loam is the most extensive type but some of the others men¬ 
tioned, while of small area, are highly improved. In Waumandee 
Valley, for example, farms on the Waukesha silt loam are as 
highly developed as, or possibly more highly developed than, 
