GROUP OF POORLY DRAINED SOILS. 
45 
ated with the soils of the Superior series, and occupies depres¬ 
sions and flat areas bordering streams and marshes. 
The surface soil of the Poygan silt loam to a depth of from 
eight to ten inches is a dark brown to black sticky, compact silt 
loam, rich in organic matter. The subsoil becomes lighter in 
color for a few inches before grading into the heavy tenacious 
red clay subsoil at from twelve to fifteen inches. 
In places the red color of the subsoil may entirely disappear, 
but the texture and other characteristics remain the same. The 
blue clay subsoil areas are too small to be mapped out separately. 
In topography the type is flat to gently sloping. The surface 
is low, and the subsoil is quite impervious to water which makes 
the natural drainage very poor. 
The original forest growth consisted principally of black ash, 
elm, maple, with some oak, hickory, poplar, birch, alders, etc. 
In most places the valuable timber has been removed. 
Very little of this type is under cultivation. The greater part 
of it is badly in need of drainage; so in its present condition, it 
is valuable chiefly as pasture land. Where the type has been 
properly drained, it has a high agricultural value. It is not 
well adapted to potatoes, but other crops common to the region 
and small grains, grasses, cabbage, sugar beets, etc., do well.* 
POYGAN FINE SANDY LOAM. 
This type is of very small extent. It is usually associated 
with the Poygan silt loam, or the Superior fine sandy loam. 
Small isolated areas are found scattered throughout the county 
where it occupies depressions and gentle slopes bordering 
streams or marshes. 
The surface soil of the Poygan fine sandy loam to a depth of 
about seven inches is a dark brown to black, friable mellow, fine 
sandy loam, carrying a relatively high per cent of organic mat¬ 
ter. The subsoil for three or four inches usually is a fine sand, 
to very light fine sandy loam, which then grades into a pinkish- 
red clay loam to clay. 
The topography of the type is flat to gently sloping. The 
surface is low and the natural drainage is poor. 
♦ For data on chemical composition and improvement of this soil, see 
page 4 6. 
