38 
SOIL SURVEY OF JACKSON COUNTY 
the soil, the surface is undulating for the most part, the rolling- 
topography occurring only in the vicinity of the sandstone 
mounds and ridges. Some of this soil is nearly level and in the 
east end of the county the areas of level topography are out¬ 
lined as a level phase of the Boone fine sand. The level areas 
outlined occur mainly in the towns of Bear Bluff, Knapp and 
City Point. 
The surface soil has in places been blown into low dunes. 
On account of the loose, open character of the soil and subsoil 
the natural drainage is excessive, and crops usually suffer from 
drought during a portion of every season. On account of the 
surface features and the loose, open character of both soil and 
subsoil, the natural drainage is excessive and the type is 
droughty. None of the slopes are sufficiently steep to make the 
prevention of erosion an important factor in the management of 
this soil. 
Origin .—In origin the Boone fine sand is largely residual, 
having been derived from the weathering of Potsdam sandstone. 
There is but little organic matter present, and such a small 
quantity of silt and clay that the loose surface material is 
readily blown by the wind, and in a number of places low sand 
dunes have been formed. The material composing the type is 
in an acid condition, as indicated by the litmus paper test. 
Native vegetation .—The original timber growth on this type 
consisted chiefly of Norway and Jack pine and scattered scrubby 
oak. Coarse grasses and sand burs are also found growing on 
the type, although there are a number of places where the sur¬ 
face is bare of vegetation, and the soil is now drifting. 
Present agricultural development .—The Boone fine sand is 
one of the most extensive types of soil in Jackson County. 
While a large part of it occurring in the western part of the 
county with soils of greater agricultural value is used for some 
agricultural purpose, a very large part of the soil in the east 
half of the county is not cultivated. Large areas remain covered 
with brush. Bushes or small trees and portions once cultivated 
have been abandoned in many cases. Perhaps fifteen to twenty- 
five percent of this soil is cultivated or used for some agricul¬ 
tural purpose. The presence of better types of soil in the vicin¬ 
ity always encourages the cultivation of this soil, but where this 
