GROUP OF HEAVY SOILS. 
23 
Trucking and small fruit growing are not carried on to any 
great extent; though the ordinary garden vegetables and berries 
are grown for heme use, and limited quantities are marketed in 
the near-by towns. There are a few small apple orchards, 
though the fruit industry has not received special attention on 
this soil. 
KNOX SILT LOAM-STEEP PHASE 
Extent and distribution .—The steep phase of the Knox silt 
loam occurs in all parts of the county intimately associated with 
the main type, and frequently grades into it in such a way 
as to make the drawing of a definite boundary line difficult. 
It occupies steep slopes generally about the heads of small 
streams heading in the areas above the rough stone land. On 
these slopes, which form the more or less steep sides of the val¬ 
leys, the silt soil is subject to erosion and careful methods are 
often necessary to prevent destructive gulch formations while 
these slopes are under cultivation. When the steep slopes are 
not wooded, or in pasture, or covered by a growing crop to pro¬ 
tect them, the soil washes badly, and ditches are quickly and 
deeply cut into the hillsides. When erosion has once started 
in this way, it is difficult to check; so methods of prevention are 
very important. 
Description .—In general physical appearance and character, 
the soil of the steep phase is essentially like the typical soil, the 
basis of separation being one of topography. As a whole, the 
color and texture of the soil may be slightly lighter than the 
typical soil, and the average depth to rock is less. Because of 
its steep, broken character, this phase has a lower agricultural 
value than the typical soil. 
Drainage .—The natural drainage of the steep phase is good 
except in small areas along the slopes where springs and seeps 
may occur. The greater part of it is so rolling that too large 
a percentage of the rainfall runs off, and crops often suffer from 
lack of moisture. 
Origin .—The Knox silt loam, steep phase, has practically the 
same origin as the typical soil, though as a rule there is less 
depth to bedrock, and chert fragments occur on the surface and 
through the soil mass in greater abundance. 
