GEO VP OF SANDY SOILS. 
43 
to raise enough feed on this soil to keep any considerable num¬ 
ber of cattle through the long winters. 
Land is very cheap on most of this soil type. From six to 
fifteen dollars an acre represents the selling price of much of it. 
In the Trempealeau and Beef River valleys the soil is somewhat 
higher priced due to the presence of better soils in the vicinity. 
PLAINFIELD FINE SAND 
Extent and distribution. —This soil is practically all confined 
to the areas bordering Robinson Creek in the townships of Man¬ 
chester and Millston. Like the Plainfield sand, this soil occupies 
the highest terrace level along the Black River valley and extends 
back in a practically level plane eastward to Millston. The 
texture of the soil seems to be slightly coarser at the east end 
than at the west end of the area, but no definite boundary can 
well be established as the change is not uniform nor distinct. 
Description .—The surface soil of the Plainfield fine sand con¬ 
sists of a brownish-gray or yellowish loose fine sand extending 
to a depth of about eight inches. The surface two inches con¬ 
tains more organic matter, making it a brown or dark brown 
in its virgin state. This is underlain by a yellow loose, fine 
sand which extends to a depth below the reach of the soil auger. 
In texture, structure, and color this type is quite similar to the 
Boone fine sand, but differs from that type in origin and topog¬ 
raphy. Like the Boone fine sand, it contains only a very small 
quantity of organic matter, and is in an acid condition. 
Native vegetation .—Only a small part of this soil is under 
cultivation, the farms on it being confined to a small group near 
Shamrock, near Millston, and at the Sandy Plains School in the 
center of the area. The great majority of the soil is covered 
with a second growth of Jack and Norway Pines, oak, poplar, 
white birch, and hazel brush. A few large white pines in the 
vicinity of Millston are the only remnants of an original Nor¬ 
way and White Pine forest covering the area. 
Present agricultural development. —There are only a few 
farms under regular cultivation on this soil, and the farming 
is not of a very progressive kind. The farms are small and 
considerable parts of the cleared area lie fallow or abandoned 
where once cultivated. The crops grown consist of rye, corn, 
