22 
SOIL SURVEY OF JACKSON COUNTY 
Fruit growing is not an important industry; though most 
farms have a few fruit trees, and there are a few fairly large 
orchards. 
Farm buildings are generally in good condition, and silos are 
rapidly coming into general use especially in the towns of Al¬ 
bion, Springfield, Hixton, North Bend, and Alma. 
Large numbers of cattle, hogs, and calves are raised and sold 
as a part of the business of dairying. Stock buyers located at 
Fairchild, Black River Falls, Hixton, Taylor, and Humbird 
operate over adjoining territory. 
The rotation of crops most commonly practiced is that of a 
small grain crop with which clover and timothy are seeded, hay 
being cut for two years after which the land is plowed for corn. 
When wheat is grown, it may take the place of the second 
grain crop. Hay may be cut for two years or the field may be 
pastured one year after being cut for hay the first year. On the 
steep slopes corn is sometimes omitted from the rotation because 
the land is more apt to erode when in an intertilled crop than 
when in a grain crop or in grass. The steepest slopes which 
are used are often kept in grass for the greater part of the time, 
though some attempt to cultivate crops on land of this character 
is made. Stable manure is usually applied to the sod to be 
plowed for corn. 
Nearly every farmer produces euough potatoes for home use 
and many have some to sell each year. The yield is usually 
about 150 bushels per acre. The soil is not as well adapted 
to this crop as some of the other types, especially the sandy 
loams, though the quality of the potatoes grown is fair. 
Tobacco was at one time more extensively cultivated than at 
present. It is generally grown on the same field for four years 
in succession, but during the first two or three years the yields 
are best. The fields must be heavily manured, and this is often 
done at the expense of the remainder of the farm. Tobacco 
usually follows potatoes or corn, and is often followed by wheat. 
The yieds secured range from 1,000 to 1,600 pounds per acre. 
Since the crop requires careful attention and considerable labor, 
the acreage devoted to it on any farm is comparatively small. 
Alfalfa is being tried by a few farmers, and some have secured 
a good stand without inoculating the soil. In order to secure 
the best results, however, the soil should be inoculated and liming 
is also necessary, since the type is slightly acid. 
