GROUP OF SAND SOILS. 
00 
cumulation of a small amount of organic matter. After a few 
years of cultivation, howeevr, this usually disappears. The sub¬ 
soil consists of a yellow or yellowish-brown sand of about me¬ 
dium texture. This very frequently becomes lighter in color 
and coarser in texture with increase in depth. In some in¬ 
stances gravel may occur sparingly on the surface, but it is usu¬ 
ally more abundant in the subsoil below a depth of 24 inches. 
Stones and bowlders of glacial origin are quite commonly 
found scattered over the surface of this soil, but typically these 
are not sufficiently numerous to interfere materially with culti¬ 
vation. In some localities, however, they do interfere with ag¬ 
ricultural operations to a marked extent. Such areas are indi¬ 
cated on the soil map by means of appropriate symbols. Where 
the soil is stony there is frequently more variation in texture 
than over typical areas of this soil. 
Topography and drainage .—The surface of the Vilas sand 
varies from gently rolling to somewhat hilly. Most of the slopes 
are rather gentle and the hills fairly well rounded. Many areas' 
have but a gently rolling topography. In the southwestern part 
of the county many of the areas of Vilas sand stand out in 
rather sharp contrast to the surrounding level country where 
the soils belong to the Plainfield series. Because of the surface 
features and the loose, open character of the soil and subsoil, the 
natural drainage is very good and often somewhat excessive. 
Origin .—Vilas sand has been derived from glacial action 
largely from crystalline rock formations, although the underly¬ 
ing rock where much of the type occurs now consists of sand¬ 
stone. The ice sheet in its movement carried the material from 
the region of the granitic rocks out over the standstone area so 
that the resulting soil consists of a mixture of the materials 
from these two sources. Crystalline rock material, however, ap¬ 
peal’s to predominate. No limestone material has entered into 
the formation of this soil and it is all in an acid condition. 
Native vegetation— The original timber growth on this land 
consisted of scrubby oak, and some white pine. In the areas to¬ 
ward the northern part of the county some Norway pine was 
found, and in a few instances hickory has been found growing 
on this soil. The chief growth at present consists of scrubby 
oak, hazel and sweet fern. 
Present agricultural development *—Probably less than half 
* For chemical composition and improvement of this soil see page 56. 
