INDUSTRY OF COUNTIES. 
339 
there being less lime and clay, but from the abundance of sand) 
is warmer, and quicker, both in starting and maturing crops. 
That portion of the openings lying at the foot of slopes, or 
between swells or ridges, differs from all other soils of the 
county; is of a darker color, very adhesive, and contains an 
abundance of vegetable and mineral substance, often immedi¬ 
ately underlaid by a thin stratum of adhesive clay, contain¬ 
ing much lime, in the form of partially decomposed pebbles. 
This is succeeded in turn by the first subsoil of the uplands, 
which is calcareous; thickness usually one to two feet, suc¬ 
ceeded by a calcareous clay, of a redish color, very tenacious, 
and when wet, difficult to handle, but after being comminuted 
by frost and subjected to the continued action of sun, rain, and 
air, becomes an excellent fertilizer. This is succeeded by hard- 
pan, of a black color, which, in descending, increases in hard¬ 
ness, becoming, at the depth of from ten to twenty feet, soft, 
water-bearing rock. This stratum is sometimes displaced by 
the gravel beds of the prairies. In all cases, the water of the 
different strata is held by each independent of the other. 
The Husbandry is much like that of our neighbors, not 
much better nor worse. Wheat forms the staple crop ; mostly 
of the spring variety. Club (Canada and Scotch) and Rio 
Grande are the favorites in market and for milling. The vari¬ 
ety known here as the Missouri white, is the earliest, being 
earlier than winter wheat; gives the best flour, but has not so 
far proved as productive as other varieties. The kind known 
as the Fife is quite a general favorite with farmers, being more 
hardy, less liable to smut, rust, or lodge, but is not so well 
liked in market, selling at from two to five cents less per bushel 
than the more favorite kinds. Oats are not much cultivated as 
a market crop, paying less, for the labor, than wheat; also 
generally thought to be more exhausting to the soil; mostly 
grown for horse feed, and considered the best grain for that 
purpose. Barley is not grown to a very great extent, though 
paying well, and not considered as exhausting as other small 
grains. It is unpleasant to handle on account of its liability 
to lodge, and its long, torturing beards. Corn is a general 
