46 
SOIL SURVEY OF WAUPACA COUNTY. 
PLAINFIELD SANDY LOAM 
The largest continuous area of this type of several square 
miles is found west of Waupaca. Other smaller tracts occur in 
various parts of the county, though chiefly in the western half 
associated with the soils of the Kennan series. The small 
patches which occur in the eastern part of the county contain 
less gravel than the western areas. 
The surface of this type to an average depth of 8 to 10 inches 
consists of a brown or slightly dark brown sandy loam of me¬ 
dium texture. This is underlain by a yellowish brown sandy 
loam or a yellowish loamy sand which at from 18 to 24 inches 
contains a sufficient amount of clay to make the material some¬ 
what sticky when wet. Gravel stones are often sufficiently nu- 
numerous in the subsoil to make boring difficult. Gravel is also 
found in places on the surface, and bordering some of the areas 
bowlders are quite plentiful. 
The surface of this type is level or nearly so, and because of 
the coarse material present, the natural drainage is frequently 
excessive; .though the type is not as subject to drought as is the 
plainfield sand. The small amount of clay in the subsoil greatly 
assists in retaining moisture. 
The Plainfield sandy loam has the same origin as the other 
soils of the Plainfield series, consisting of alluvial material de¬ 
posited as outwash plains and valley fill by glacial waters. The 
parent material was both crystalline rock and sandstone drift 
and the soil is a mixture from these two sources. No calcareous 
material is present and both soil and subsoil are acid. 
The original timber was chiefly oaks and white pine. All 
merchantable timber has been cut. 
Probably about 75% of this soil has been improved. All the 
general farm crops common to the region are grown in connec¬ 
tion with dairying farming. Rye does well on this soil, but 
other small grains do not yield as well as on the heavier types. 
Corn and potatoes yield better than on the sand, and clover can 
be raised with less difficulty. Some alfalfa is being grown, but 
liming is necessary to secure and maintain a good stand.* 
* See page 50 for chemical composition and improvement. 
