f

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGr/cULTURE.

BUREAU OF SOILS— MILTON WHITNEY, Chief.

IN COOPERATION WITH THE IOWA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION,
C. F. CURTISS, DIRECTOR; W. II. STEVENSON, IN CHARGE OF SOIL

SURVEY; P. E. BROWN, ASSOCIATE ; UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY,

IOWA.

BY

T, 11. BENTON, OF the Iowa Agricxtlturai. Experimext

Station, Iisr Charge, and C. O. JAECKEL, of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture.

THOAIAS D. RICE, Inspector, Northern Division.

(Advance Sheets — Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1919.]

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1922.

BUREAU OF SOILS.

Milton Whitnky. Chief of Hurvau.
Albert G. Kkk, Chief Clerk.

SOIL SURVEY.

Curtis F. Marbut, In Charge.
G. W. Baumaxn, I'liceutive Anxistant.

coMMrnKK ON the correlation and (lasstktcation of soils.

(.'urtis V. Marbut. Chuirmun.
Hugh H. Bennett. In.spector, Southwn Division.
W. Edward Hearn, Inspector, Soutliern Divi.siou.
Thomas D. Rice, Inspector, Nortliern Division.
\V. E. McLendon, Inspector. Northern DivisioiL
Macy H. Lapham, In.spector, Western Division.

Louise L. Martin, ISccfetary.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

BUREAU OF SOILS— MILTON WHITNEY, Chief.

IN COOPERATION WITH THE IOWA AGRICULTUKAL EXPERIMENT STATION,

C. F. CURTISS, DIRECTOR; W. II. STEVENSON, IN CHARGE OF SOIL

SURVEY; P. £. BROWN, ASSOCIATE IN CHARGE.

SOIL SUHVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY,

IOWA.

BY

T. H. BENTON, of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment

Station, In Charge, and C. O. JAECKEL, of the U. S.

Department of Agriculture.

THOMAS D. RICE, Inspector, Northern Division.

(Advance Sheets — Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1919.]

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1922.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department of Agriculture,

Bureau of Soils,
Washington, D. 6\, July 29, 1921.
Sir : Under the cooperative agreement with the Towa Aji^ricultural
Experiment Station, C. V. Curtiss, director, a soil survey of Wright
Coiint}"^ was carried to completion duriiii!; the field season of 1919.

I liavc the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript and map
covering this work and to recommend their publication as advance
sheets of Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils for 1919, as author-
ized by law.

Respectfully,

Milton Whitney,

Chief of Bureau.
Hon. H. C. Wallace,

Secretary of Agriculture.
2

SRLF
"Pi

CONTENTS.

Page.
Soil Survey of Weight County, Iowa. By T. H. Benton, of the Iowa
Agricultural Experiment Station, In Charge, and C. O. Jaeckel, of

the U. S. Department of Agriculture 5

Description of the area 5

Climate 11

Agriculture . 12

Soils 1 21

Carrington sandy loam 24

Carrington fine sandy loam 25

Carrington loam 26

Webster loam 27

Webster silty clay loam 29

Clarion loam 31

Fargo loam 33

Fargo silty clay loam 33

Buckner loam 34

O'Neill loam 35

Bremer silt loam 36

Waukesha loam 37

Wabash loam . 37

Wabash silty clay loam 38

Peat 38

Muck 39

Summary 40

ILLUSTRATIONS.

figure.

Page.
Fig. 1. Sketch map showing location of the Wright County area, Iowa 5

MAP.

Soil map, Wright County sheet, Iowa.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.

By T. H. BENTON of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, In Charge, and
C. O. JAECKEL, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. — Area Inspected by
THOMAS D. RICE.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ABEA.

Wright Coiint}^, Iowa, is located about midway between the center
of the State and its northern boundary and lies in the third tier of
counties south of the Minnesota State line. The southeastern corner
of the county is G6 miles due north of Des Moines. The county
is bounded on the north by Hancock County, on the east by Franklin
County, on the south by Hamilton County, and on the west by Web-
ster and Humboldt Counties. It is composed of 16 townships, form-
ing an approximate square, and comprises an area of 575 square miles,
or 368,000 acres.

The area lies wholly within the region overrun by the Wisconsin
ice sheet, and the topography is largely
conshnictional ; that is, the surface fea-
tures were formed by the deposition of
glacial debris and not modified to anj^
great extent by subsequent erosion. The
county has two general types of to-
pogTaphj', a relatively smooth till plain
and a morainic hilly region. A line
drawn from the center of the northern
boundary of the county to a point on the
southern boundary about 5 miles west of
the southeastern corner will roughly divide the till plain on the west
from the morainic hills on the east.

The till plain is characterized by nearly level to undulating topog-
raphy. Boone Eiver and its few tributaries have not yet eroded
valleys but flow in narrow channels. Their minor drainage ways have
not penetrated over the whole surface, so that areas of several square
miles may be untouched by streams, and many streams that penetrate
flat areas do not as yet carry away efficiently the surplus water. The
flat topography and restricted drainage are indicated by the fact

5

Fig. 1. — Sketch luai-t .showing,'- lo-
cation of the Wright County
area, Iowa.

6 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREATt OF SOILS, l»li).

that tho soils over tlio ^ivuter i)art of this phiin show ovidonco of poor
draina^a' either at the ])resent time or until within a very recent stao:e
of their (leveh)i)nient. No hikes occur in this phiin except Wall
T^ake, near its eastern border.

The morainic part of the county possesses a greater variety of topo-
graphic featui'es. The region consists of a gently to sharjjly rolling
j)lain traversed by chains of morainic hills. Some parts of this mo-
rainic section are almost as smooth as the till plain, but the general
average, even at some distance from the moraines, is more rolling.
The morainic hills range in prominence from mere swells to sharply
rounded hills which stand up above the general level of the country.
A very prominent chain of hills occurs a few miles northeast of
Clarion, along the eastern side of Elm and Cornelia Lakes. Branch-
ing fi-om this chain of hills a small range extends southward about

7 miles, passing 2 miles east of Clarion. Another chain leaves the
main range west of Dows, extends in a northeasterly direction, and
crosses the county line about 3 miles north 9f Dows. This range is
cut through by the Iowa Eiver. In the vicinity of Dows a few iso-
lated hills or mounds, which are so regular in shape as to appear arti-
ficial, rise above the general level of the plain to a height of 40 or
50 feet. The land surface in the morainic area is almost unchanged
by the effects of erosion. Many marshes and sloughs wind among the
hills, but no drainage channels have begun rapid erosion. Nearly
one-third of the total area of the morainic region is either flat or
lacking in drainage outlets, so that it shows effects of poor drainage.

A chain of shallow lakes, ranging in size from 320 to 1,200 acres,
lies along a north-and-south line a little east of the .center of the
county. Morse, Cornelia, and Elm Lakes lie in the morainic hills,
while Wall Lake, the largest, lies in the level prairie.

First bottoms, or alluvial flood plains, are developed along all
the main streams and for distances of from 1 to 5 miles along their
tributaries. They range from 50 feet to about three-eighths of a
mile in width. Second bottoms, or terraces, are found only along
the Iowa River, the West Branch of the Iowa, and the Boone River,
and along a small creek which enters the Iowa River about 3|
miles south of Dows. On this creek and at Belmond, on the Iowa
River, two terraces are developed, one about 8 feet above the level
of the first bottom and the other about 15 feet higher.

The highest elevation in the county occurs on the morainic divide
just east of the center of the county. Three miles east of Clarion
the altitude is given as 1,240 feet above sea level. The lowest
elevation, 1,108 feet, is in the west-central part of the county at
Goldfield. This gives a variation of 132 feet between extremes.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY. IOWA. 7

The county has a simple natural drainage S3'stem, rather poorly
developed, since a longer period is needed to develop an elaborate
network of streams than has elapsed since the drift was deposited.
Two rivers and their few tributaries carry all the drainage water
of the county. The tributaries have the form of natural streams
only a short distance from their mouths, their upper courses having
been straightened and deepened by dredging. Many large open
drainage ditches and covered concrete mains empty into them. Some
sloughs and depressed areas are still undrained.

The northern and eastern parts of the county are drained by the
Iowa River and its few short tributaries. This river enters the
county 4 miles north of Belmond, takes a general southeasterly
course, leaves the county 1 mile north of Dows, reenters it about
one-half mile south of Dows, skirts the county line for 3 miles,
and then turns abruptly eastward into Franklin County. The
winding channel of the Iowa River has a somewhat narrow flood
plain, ranging from a few hundred feet to three-eighths of a
mile in width. The current is rather slow except during high water.
A continuous terrace, or second bottom, from one-eighth mile to 2
miles in width, extends from the north boundary of the count}^
along the river to within 2^ miles of Belmond. It reappears north
of Dows and follows the river throughout the rest of its course in
the county. Three and one-half miles south of Dows, where the
river leaves the county, the terrace extends back nearly 3 miles
along a small creek, which has been dredged to accelerate its slug-
gish current. It has an average width of about one-half mile along
this creek.

The West Branch of the Iowa River enters the county 5 miles
northwest of Belmond and joins the main stream one-half mile north
of Belmond. Its present channel at the county line and northward
is a large dredged ditch.

The Boone River and its tributaries drain the rest of the county
west of the morainic hills. This stream flows in a channel ranging
from about 10 feet below the level of the upland where it enters the
county, to 60 feet below where it crosses the southern boundary. It
is sluggish and meanders back and forth across its bottom land,
which is from 20 feet to about one-fourth of a mile wide. Occa-
sional broken strips of bench-like terraces well above overflow are
found in the concave bends of the river. At the lower end of the
river these terraces are about 30 to 40 feet above the stream. The
valley walls range from short, gentle slopes along the upper course
to steep, nearly parallel walls, 50 to 60 feet high, where the river
leaves the county.

8 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THH BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

Otter, Ea«;le, and AVhite Fox Creeks, tributaries of Boone River,
have cut channels throu<;h the fhit prairies. They are characterized
by narrow bottom lands, winding; courses, short, gently sloping val-
ley walls, and slu<rgish flow. All have a <;eneral southwesterly
course. 'J'he natural draina<re alonfj^ the Boone Kiver and these trib-
utaries is limited to the adjacent farms, and in many eases almost
to the channels of the sti'eanis themselvt^s, tiu' topo<j:rai)hy being such
that in places the tlrainage of the upland is actually away from the
streams.

Artificial channels in the u]^per courses of the tributaries increase
their capacity to carry the drainage water from the intricate network
of open ditches and large concrete mains which have been built to
drain the flat interstream areas. About $1,000,(K)0 has been si)ent to
date on these artificial drainage waj^s. The fall in the ditches aver-
ages about 1 foot to the mile. The tiling is so extensive as to aflford
a continuous flow of water in many open ditches, and the flow is
strong enough to maintain the channel. In many of the.se large
ditches 48-inch concrete tile is being laid and covered over, thus
eliminating the expense of redredging certain sections of the ditches
where wind, weathering, and cattle have gradually filled them. Be-
cause of the very gradual fall, only a slight filling is necessary to
impair the drainage efficiency.

The only native forest areas are scattered strips on the slopes
adjacent to the streams and lakes and on the narrow first bottoms.
The growth consists of red cedar, cottonwood, aspen, quaking asp,
willow, walnut, butternut, hickory, oak, elm, ash, basswootl, sumac,
hackberry, cherry, and other hardwood trees. Artificial plantings
for windbreak ])rotection are mostly of cedar, spruce, pine, wallow,
cottonwoinl, ash, and maple.

The water supply for stock and domestic use generally comes from
drilled wells 25 feet deep. In the higher central part of the moraine
belt a lift of from 50 to lUO feet is required in tlie deep wells, while
farther east on the lower ground the water rises nearly to the surface.
In the lower part of the valley of the Iowa River, and at Belmond
and Dows, flowing wells have been obtained. In the greater part
of the western half of the county the water rises to wnthin a few feet
of the top of the wells, or above the surface in the lower areas.
Two-thirds of the western part of the county is in the artesian-w^ater
district, which is said to have more flowing wells for its size than
any other area in the country. It is stated that a flow can be ob-
tained at some point on approximately half of the farms. The w^ater
is of excellent quality, and wells in that area have never been known
to go dry. A few springs are found along the slopes of the Boone
River. Some windmills are in use, but gasoline engines are gen-
erally used for pumping.

SOIL SXTRVEY OF WEIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 9

The first settlers came into Wright County from Hamilton County
in 1854 and settled along the streams in wooded areas that afforded
fuel and shelter during the Avinter and protection from prairie fires
during the summer. Most of these pioneers were originally from
New York, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Prior to this
trappers and United States soldiers were the only whites here. In
1830 the southern part of the county was ceded to the Government by
the Sac and Fox Indians, and the northern part by the Sioux. The
county was established in 1851. The first settlements of importance
were made near the present town site of Woolstock, in the southern
part of the county. The northern part was settled much later by
homesteaders, mostly of Scandinavian descent. In the southern half
of the county farmers of French extraction predominated, with those
of German extraction second. At present people of German descent
have largely displaced the French. Many other nationalities are now
represented, some having been attracted to the county in recent years
by the beet-sugar industry. They include Russians, Mexicans,
Greeks, Italians, Poles, and Austrians.

This particular region was among the last in the State to be oc-
cupied. This can be accounted for in part by the poor drainage of
the broad, level prairie lands, which were simply a continuation of
shallow sloughs and ponded areas most of the year. Further, much
of the land was in the hands of speculators, who held it at relatively
high prices, and homeseekers did not stop here but continued west,
toward the Missouri River, where fertile and better drained farm
lands could be obtained for much less.

According to the 1920 census, the total population of the county is
20,348. Somewhat more than 65 per cent of this is rural, giving a
density of 22.8 persons per square mile. The farming population
is rather uniformly distributed over the county, being only a little
more concentrated near the large towns. Probably the northeastern
corner is slightly less densely populated than the average. Clarion,
with a population of 2,826, is the county seat. It is a division point
on the Chicago Great Western Railroad, Avhich gives direct connec-
tion with Chicago, Omaha, and St. Paul. It is an important trad-
ing center and shipping point for cattle, hogs, poultry, and grain.
Eagle Grove, population 4,433, in the southwestern part of the
county, is the largest town. The Chicago & North Western Railroad
shops are located here. It is also an important distributing point
and center for live stock and agi-icultural products. Belmond, in
the northeastern part of the county, has a population of 1.797. A
large cement-tile works and a beet-sugar factory are situated in
this place. Dows, an important trading center located on the county
line in the southeastern part of the county, has a population of 1,145.
63164°— 22 2

10 FIKLK OI'KHATIONS OT Till. lUKKAr OK SOILS, lf>19.

OlluT towns of local iiii[>oitaiicc are (Joldlield, w itli a population of
749; Woolstock, witli 2J)4 ; Kowan, with .'502, and Gait, with 134.
Olaf, in the noitliorn part of the county, is a local tiadinf; center
and shipping' point, (rrain elevators arc located at Palsville, Cor-
nelia, Solher^r, Florence, and Nuel. There are no towns away from
railroads.

The railroad racilitios of tlio county are fair, no farm hein<; more
than 12 miles from a .'^hij)i)in^ point. The Chicago (ireat Western
Kailroad runs dia<ronall3' across the county from northeast to south-
west throujih Palsville, Belmond, Cornelia, Florence, P^agle Grove,
and Nuel. At Clarion the main line to Chicaj^o turns directly east-
ward, providing transjiortation and market facilities for Solberg
and Rowan. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific line passes through
Goldlield, Clarion, Gait, and Dows. At Dows a branch line extends
to the north through Rowan and Belmond. The Chicago & North
Western lines traverse the county in a northwesterly direction, pass-
ing through AVoolstock, Eagle Grove, and Goldficld. A branch of
this line extends northwest from Eagle Grove. The Minneapolis &
St. Louis Railroad passes through Olaf and Belmond. These roads
provide tran.sportation to the various large markets.

The wagon roads of the county are mostly of earth. Extensive
plans are in progress for improving and graveling the main high-
wa3's in the immediate .future. A few of the main highways have
been surfaced with gravel and can be used for autos and trucks
practicall}" the entire 3'ear. The Diagonal Trail runs from east to
west through the center of the county, and the Albert Lea Road
runs along the eastern side from north to south. The less important
roads are nearly all graded and during the summer are kept in good
shape by dragging. E.xcept along the rivers and streams where
topography prevents, the roads generally follow land lines.

The county is liberally supplied with rural mail routes, and prac-
tically all farms have telephone service.

The public-school systems are well developed, and schools are
accessible to all communities. The rural districts around Rowan
have consolidated and established an excellent school there. Other
rural schools in the county are independent.

Excellent houses and other farm buildings, mostly of wood con-
struction, are generally found throughout the county.

The important local markets are Clarion and Eagle Grove. A
large proportion of the live stock and other agricultural products is
sold to local buyers, although a few producers ship direct to the
larger citie.';. Chicago, St. Paul, Sioux Cit}', and Omaha are the
principal markets for the products of tlie farm.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 11

CLniATE,

The climate of Wright County shows wide variation in tempera-
ture, the difference in extremes being 140° F. It is nevertlieless
healthful and suitable for the growing of staple crops common to
this region.

The mean annual precipitation is 32.36 inches. The greatest an-
nual rainfall, 42.58 inches, occurred in 1918, while the least, 20.38
inches, fell in 1910. The rainfall is generally well distributed
through the growing season, about 73 per cent falling from April
to September, inclusive. The rain usually falls slowly and gently.
Occasionally convectional storms, some accompanied by hail, cause
considerable damage in narrow belts of country.

Owing to the high moisture-holding capacity of most of the soils,
the periods of drought that sometimes occur during the growing
season have never caused a crop failure. How^ever, crops on the
sandy ridges and gravelly-subsoil terraces suffer considerably dur-
ing such periods. Excessive rainfall is more apt to be injurious to
the crops than drought.

The mean temperature of the summer is 70.5° F., the highest tem-
perature on record being 103° F. Periods of excessive heat are
generally of very short duration. Prevailing summer wdnds are
from the south and southwest. Strong winds are common, but
tornadoes are of very rare occurrence.

The winters are usually quite cold, the temperature averaging
r7,5° F. Heavy snows are of usual occurrence, the average annual
snowfall amounting to about 2 feet. Frequently the drifting snow
causes mucli trouble by blockading roads and railroads.

Clover and wdieat arc not infrequently injured by wnnter killing.
The winds in the wnnter generally come from the northwest, and
nearly every farmstead has a windbreak of trees on that side for
protection. Narrow, broken belts of timber along the rivers and
creeks afford the only natural protection in the county.

The earliest recorded killing frost in the fall occurred on Septem-
ber 17, and the latest in the spring, on May 17. The average date
of the first killing frost in the fall, however, is October 5, and the
average date for the last in the spring is May 6. This gives an
average growing season of 152 days.

The heavy prairie soils, because of their moisture-holding capacity,
arc rather slow in warming up in the spring, and early-maturing
varieties of corn should be planted to avoid injury by fall frosts.
On the lower lying lands especially, even where the drainage is well
established, it is important to grow the earlier maturing varieties
of corn to insure a normal crop.

12

I'lKI-D ()PKR.\TIONS OF THK MTRKAIT of SOIT.S, IM^).

Tlic follow inir tiilik', ^i\in^' normal monthly, seasonal, and annual
Irmix'iatiiic and pivcipitation, is taken from the records of the
\\'catlier llui'caii stalion at Hclinond:

.\(>nii(tl inoiillihi, scdminiil. tnid (iiniKdl hiii iicnit tire inul prrripitnt inn (it

r>i IukdkI.

(KlPMition, 1,205 feet.)

Temporaturc.

I'reclpitation.

Month.

.Mean.

Al)so-

liilc

niaxi-

niiini.

Ab.so-
lute
niini-
niiim.

Mean.

Total
amount
for llio
tirii'st
year
(1910).

Total
amount
for the
wettest
year
(1918).

22.6
12.3

17.5

'F.
56
51
00

"F.
-26
-37

-28

Inches.

1.14

1.42

.94

Inches.

0.38

1.51

.22

Inche-'.
1.22

January

February

1.38
.63

17.5

60

-37

3.50

2.11

3.23

March

April

May

31.1
47.1
58.9

84
93
92

-20
6
25

1.22
2.72
5.71

.23
1.04
3.52

.93

2.12
10.48

Spring

45.7

93

-20

9.65

4.79

13.53

June . . .

fiS.O
73.0
70.4

98
103
101

36
42
34

4.62
3.58
3.05

3.05
3.13
3.58

8.37

July

4.21

3.40

70.5

103

34

11.25

9.76

15.98

September

October

November

61.8
49.7
37.2

100
86
76

24

4

- 5

3.96
2.76
1.24

2.14
1.25
.33

2.56
4.34
2.94

Fall

49.6

100

- 5

7.96 3.72

9.84

45.8

103

-37

32.36

20.38

42.58

AGRICULTURE.

The agricultural development of Wrifrht Countj^ began in 1854
with the incoming of the first settlers. The first farms Avere situated
along the wooded streams, and it was only after the developmenr,
of artificial drainage that settlers in any number attempted to farm
the heavy, black, flat prairie land. Patches of barley, flax, and
wheat for home use were the first cro])s grown. Flax Avas soon aban-
doned because it was so hard on the Avheat crop following, making a
differance of about one-third in the grain yield. Corn and oats were
not brought in until 1875 to 1880. As late as the nineties, part of the
prairie land, with its luxuriant growth of nutritious grasses, re-

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.

13

mained in open ran^^es. Cattle were driven in from Hamilton and
Franklin Counties in the snninier to graze and were taken back in
the fall.

With the advent of railroads in 1880 and 1881 settlers began com-
ing in very rapidly. At that time only 29.9 per cent of the land of
the county was under cultivation. At present 93.6 per cent of the
area is in farms, and about 90 per cent is improved. At first spring
wheat was the principal cash crop, but with the introduction of oats
and early varieties of corn these crops became more important.

Grain growing and the raising of live stock have, since the very
first settlements, been the main agricultural industries.

The table given below shows the acreage and production of the
principal field crops as reported in the United States census of 1880
to 1920. inclusive.

Acreage mid prodiiet'ron of pvlnoiijul field crops, census JSSO to 1D20, inclusive.

Corn.

Oats.

Wheat.

Hay and forage.

Barley.

Census

year.

Acres.

Bushels.

Acres.

Busliels.

Acres.

Bushels.

Acres.

Tons. .

Acres.

Bushels.

1879. . . .

25, 263

997, 750

8,010

262,639

16, 858

204,289

7,218

11,553

461

9,626

1889. . . .

68, 982

2,245,013

48,594

2,102,332

4,161

74, 407

70,090

84,656

2,696

90,629

1899. . . .

103, 524

3,829,660

79,627

3,201,250

18,058

293, 850

51,838

63,751

5,857

192, 220

1909....

99, 659

3,468,716

79, 556

1,985,823

1,364

21,721

89,608

119,525

3,037

52,611

1919....

106,805

4, 154, 115

89,219

3,112,637

2,761

39, 246

45,403

93,973

1,839

40,279

A very large increase in the total acreage in crops has occurred
since 1880, owing in great measure to the reclamation of poorly
drained areas. Corn has been the leading crop since the early
eighties, and at present nearly 35 per cent of the improved land of
the county is annuall}' planted to this crop. The average yield in
the five years covered by the census ranges from 35 to 38.9 bushels
per acre. Except for a phenomenal increase from 1880 to 1890, the
acreage of oats shows about the same rate of increase as the acreage
of corn. Oats is an important cash crop. Until after 1900 wheat
was one of the more important cash croi)s. Since that time its
production has rapidly decreased.

Until the late eighties the prairie was open range. The inclos-
ing of this open range accounts for the 871 per cent increase in hay
and forage crops cut in 1879 and 1889. Barley is grown on a
considerable acreage, but has shown a steady decrease since 1900.
The average yield, as reported by the 1920 census, was 22 bushels
per acre. Flax was formerly raised on a large acreage, but its pro-
duction has gradually decreased until now only an occasional crop
is grown on sod. Very small acreages of buckwheat, rye, and emmer
are sown.

14 I'lHLD OPKRATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

At ])ri.'sc'iit tlir pit'vuiliii^i' ty|»i' of a^riciiliui-t' consists ol" ^i-.iin
growing iiiul llu' liiisin^ aiul IccMliiio- of hoos. ciitlk', luul other live
stock. Corn, outs, luiy, barley, wheat, (lax, rye, and allalla are the
chief crops, named in order of their importance. A considerable
(juantity of oats and shelled corn has been sold direct, especially in
the last few years, because of the hi<i;h cash grain market. How-
ever, the bulk of the crop is fed to cattle and hogs, and a small
part to work stock. The grain that is sold is practically all shipped
through privately owned or cooperative grain elevators, which are
located in every part of the county.

The live-stock industry in Wright County consists mainly of
the raising and feeding of cattle and hogs. A few sheep are raised,
and some western feeders are shipped in to be finished for market.

The raising of hogs is the most important branch of the live-stock
industry. On January 1, 1920, there were 79,427* hogs on farms.
Purebred stock is mostly of Poland-China, Duroc-Jersey, and Ches-
ter White breeds, but mixtui'es of these breeds predominate. Pure-
bred sires are commonly used, but there are only a few purebred
herds in the county. Most of the i)igs are farrowed in the months
of March and April and are marketed at a weight of a))out 250
pounds. Corn and tankage are used for finishing. Some shorts,
ground oats, and l)arley are fed. Several carloads of stock hogs
are shipped in annually from Omaha and Sioux City for fattening.
Most of the hogs are marketed in Chicago and St. Paul, a few going
to Omaha. The larger feeders shij) carload lots direct to the market,
but most of the hogs are handled by local buyers and shipping asso-
ciations at Clarion and Goldfield.

The Ijeef-cattle industry is second in importance to hog raising.
About 90 per cent of the cattle raised for beef are grade Shorthorns.
Quite a number of grade Angus are fed. The total number of beef
cattle in Wright County January 1, 1920, was 27,593. Many west-
ern feeders are shipped in during the latter part of September and
the first pai't of October and marketed in December and January.
Most of these are handled around P'agle (rrove, Dows, and Clarion.
They are kept on pasture until the middle or last of November,
then finished on corn, molasses feed, and cottonseed meal. Rough-
age is mostly silage, timothy hay, and clover hay. Some straw and
fodder and shredded fodder are' fed. A number of purebred herds
are scattered over the county. Polled and Horned Herefords pre-
dominate, Aberdeen-Angus being second, and Shorthorn third. A
considerable number of purebred animals for breeding puri:>oses are
shipped out of the county every year. Purebred sires are now owned
on nearly every farm where beef cattle are raised.

Small flocks of sheep are found in different parts of the county,
mainly in the east-central and western part, on the roughest farms.

1

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 15

The total number of sheep in the county is given as 6,540 in 1*J2(),
and the total wool clip is 28,867 pounds. A few western feeders
are shipped in each year from Omaha and Sioux City. Most of the
sheep are grades, with some purebred Shropsliires and a few Ox-
fords and Southdowns.

The horses raised in the county are mostly farm chunks and light
drafters. In 1920 there were 15,465 horses in the county, and 543
mules. A few colts are raised every year to take the place of the
older animals which are sold. From 8 to 12 horses usually are kept
on each farm. A few purebred Percherons are raised, mostly
around Rowan and Solberg. There are also a few purebred Shires
and Belgians.

Dairying, at one time a very important industry in Wriglit
County, is now carried on in only a small way. The production is
barely sufficient to supply farm needs and the local markets. Most
of the dairy cattle are grade Holstein and grade Shorthorn, with
a few of the Jersey and Guernsey breeds. There are a few excel-
lent dairy herds in the county^ located mostly around the larger
towns, where the products are locally consumed. Cooperative
creameries are located at Clarion, Belmond, Goldfield, and Eagle
Grove. Cream-buying stations are located in nearly every town.

Poultry raising is an important industry. Every farm has a
flock that yields a good annual revenue. The number of poultry
on farms January 1, 1920, is given as 245,222 chickens and 7,943''
other poultry, and the eggs obtained during 1919 amounted to
957,790 dozens. Considerable attention is paid in some localities to
purebred chickens. Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Reds, White
and Buff Wyandotte, and Barred Plymouth Rock have the preference
in the order named. A good many ducks and geese, some turkeys,
and a few guinea fowds are also raised. The products are marketed
through local buyers, who ship to larger markets.

Corn is the most important field crop in the county and occupied
106,805 acres in 1919. It is grown on practically all soil types. The
average yield is fairly constant. Moisture conditions, however,
cause considerable local variation. The black prairie soils, where
well drained, will produce on an average slightly higher yields than
the lighter and more rolling sandy types of soil. The average yield
for 1919 was 38.9 bushels per acre. According to an estimate from
the local farm bureau, an average of from 40 to 45 bushels is pro-
duced. White and yellow dent corn are grown exclusively. A gen-
eral preference is shown for the yellow corn, with Reids Yellow
Dent, 16 to 20 row, holding first place. Other popular varieties
grown are Silver King, Little Iowa, Silver Mine, Minnesota 13. and
Murdocks Yellow Dent. The slower heavy soils and the climatic
conditions have necessitated selection of early-maturing varieties.

16 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1019.

ISfost of the seed planted now is selecteil IVoni the cril) and is more
or less mixed. A compariitively small nninhcr of the farmers test
seed foi'ii before j)lantin^. Corn is «i;eneially planted from the 1st
to the loth of May. Most of the land is plowed in the fall, from 4
to 0 imljes deep, depending on the soil ty|)e. The corn is practically
all check rowed. Jn the sprin<^ the land is double disked and gone
over with a spike-tooth harrow before planting. The first cultiva-
tion is fi'om .'i to 4 inches, the later ones fi'om U to 2 inches deep.
A small acreage is drilled and is used for silage and fodder. The
crop is harvested from about the middle of October to the last of
November. The bulk of the crop is husketl in the field and hauled
to the crib, where it is generally handled with a power elevatpr.
Probably 5 per cent is shocked and hauled out to be fed. A com-
mon practice is to fence olf small portions and hog down, very little
being fed to cattle in the field. The larger part of the crop is used
to feed hogs, cattle, and work stock. The surplus, which is sold to
local elevators, is husked at the crib and shelled by power outfits
moving from farm to farm. There is a tendency to sell most of
the corn on tenant farms rather than feed it. Occasionally, in wet
seasons, considerable damage is done by cutworms, wireworms, and
the root louse.

Oats are second in importance to corn as a cash crop and also in
acreage. The 1920 census gives the production for the county as
3,112,637 bushels, with an average of 34.9 bushels per acre. Ordi-
narily the yields range between 40 and 50 bushels per acre. Early
and late oats hold about an even place in acreage. The predominat-
ing early varieties are Iowa 103, Kherson, Early Champion, and
Iowa 105. Of the late varieties. Silver Mine, Swedish Select, and
Green Russian are the most popular. The crop is sown from the
middle to the end of March and is ready for harvesting about the
10th of July. Most of the crop is sown on corn stubble, practically
all being broadcast. The usual method in planting is to sow, disk^
and drag, or to disk, sow, disk, and drag, the latter being preferred.
Between 75 and 90 per cent of the acreage of corn is sown to oats.
The climatic conditions as a rule are very favorable, but occasionally
a hot period during the time the heads are filling lightens the crop
appreciably. Until recently smut has caused considerable damage
to the crop, but it now has been practically eradicated through treat-
ment of seed with formalin solution, Chicago and St. Paul are
the principal markets.

Wheat is now relatively unimportant and only a small part of the
local requirement is produced. Spring wheat is grown almost ex-
clusively, principally because of the uncertainty of the fall-sown
crop on account of winter killing. According to the Iowa Agri-

^

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 17

cultural Year Book, the acreage of spring wheat in 1918 was 4,028
acres, compared with 393 acres of winter wheat. However, the
winter wheat shows an average of 4 bushels more per acre than the
spring Avheat, the average yield of which is 17.3 bushels per acre.
The winter varieties grown are Turkey and Iowa 104. Marquis
and Little Bluestem are the common spring varieties. The crop
usually follows oats or corn, and most of it is grown on the lighter
and more sandy soils in the east-central and western parts of the
county, near the river. It is generally sold from the thrashing
machine.

Sugar beets became a crop of recognized possibilities in 1910. The
beets are grown almost exclusively on the heavier black Webster
soil. The silty clay loam, which has from 2 to 4 inches of loam on
the surface, and the loam type are particularly adapted to this
crop, where properly tilled. Recently rather large areas of Peat
soils have been successfully planted to sugar beets, yielding from
10 to 14 tons per acre, but the sugar content is not as high as in beets
grown on other soils. The average yield is about 10 tons per acre.
The crop is cared for by foreign labor, mostly Russian and Gennan.
The erection of a 1^ million dollar refining plant at Belmond will
undoubtedly increase the present acreage materially. The beets are
now shipped to a factory at Mason City.

Barley was grown on 1,839 acres in 1919, with a total production
of 40,^79 bushels and an average yield of 21.9 bushels per acre. Both
the 4-rowed and 6-rowed varieties are grown, the latter being con-
sidered the better. Barley is fed mostly to pigs. A very small
part of the production is shipped to outside markets.

Hay and forage crops occupy an acreage next to oats. The total
crop for 1919 is given as 93,973 tons grown on 45,403 acres. About
one-sixth of this was wild hay, most of which is cut from untilled
depressed areas of Webster silty clay loam. As late as 1900 the
wild-grass hay tonnage for the county was nearly twice that of tame-
grass hay. The former has rapidly decreased with artificial drain-
age of the farms.

Timothy and clover mixed constitute the chief hay crop at present.
Oats are nearly always used as a nuree crop. A common practice in
recent years has been to add some alsike and sweet clover seed to the
mixture of timothy and red clover. Part of the hay crop is baled
and shipped, but most of it is used on the farm. Considerable timo-
thy is gi'own separately, both for seed and hay. Where timothy is
grown for seed only, it is cut about the middle of July, generally
later than oats, and thrashed from the shock. A comparatively
small acreage is in clover alone. Seed is harve|ted from a consider-
able part of the crop. On the heavier soils that have been tiled little
63164°— 22 3

18 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

tr<jul)lo lias Ix'on oxporieiu't'd in ohtainiiii:' a cioj). IIea\'y stands
have been diHiciilt to obtain because of winter killing.

Pastures are fienerally permanent. Most of the pastures are lo-
cated on poorly drained Webster soil, which, because of an abundant
moisture supply throu«rh the dry season, furnishes an excellent
growth of blue grass, the principal pasture grass.

Millet is grown on a small acreage, some sorghum is raised for
forage and hogging down.

Alfalfa has received jH-actically no attention until within the last
few years. It is being successfully grown and gives 8 cuttings, aver-
aging 8 to 3 1 tons per acre for the season. Northern-grown seed,
mostly the Grim variety from the Dakotas and Minnesota, is gener-
ally used.

Sweet clover grows luxuriantly along the roadside over the entire
county. It is grown on a few farms for hay and pasture.

Potatoes are a crop of minor importance, being grown on 1,051
acres in 1919 Avith an acreage yield of 42 bushels. Small fields of 1
to 3 or 4 acres are most common. In normal seasons enough are grown
for consumption on the farm, with a surplus that nearly supplies the
local market. Early Ohio, Rural Xew Yorker, Irish Cobbler, and
Burbank are the most popular varieties. Potatoes for seed are
raised commercially in sm*ll quantities. Sandy, loamy, and peat
soils seem to produce the best yields. Potato blight and the potato
leaf-hopper cause some trouble.

Trucking is not carried on to any extent. Enough vegetables are
grown for home use. and occasionally a small quantity for market.
Considerable sweet corn is raised over the county in small acreages.

So}^ beans are being tried on quite a number of farms. They are
planted w^ith the corn by means of a special attachment on the corn
planter. The crop is used for forage and silage, being cut, bundled,
and shredded with the corn. This nuikes a ver}'' nutritious feed mix-
ture. Ito San, Manchu, and Black Eyebrow seem best adapted to the
locality. The medium green and yellow are particularly desirable
for silage purposes.

Fruit is grown in a small v^ay on practically every farm. Gener-
ally orchards are limited to 10 to 20 trees, but a very few contain
several acres. Insufficient care of trees and the lack of windbreaks
greatly cut down the yield of fruit. Plums, cherries, and a few pear
trees are found, but the apple is principally grown. The orchards
in the more rolling sections of the county are the most successful.
Local markets are mainly supplied from outside sources, several cars
of apples being shipped in every year. Strawberries, gooseljcrries,
raspberries, blackbei-ries, and grapes are raised, but in quantities that
hardly supply the local demand. Many farmers buy quantities of
commercial canned fruits in the fall for winter use.

SOIL SURVEY OF WEIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 19

The systems of farmino; are quite uniform over the county. Ex-
tensive rather than intensive methods are practiced. Crop rotation
is practiced to some extent on every farm. On the heavier soils,
which lie more or less flat, a rotation of corn and oats with an occa-
sional seeding to timothy and clover is the general practice. More
timothy and clover are used on the more rolling soil types. On
many tenant farms corn and oats have been groAvn alternately, or
corn year after year, with no change or inclusion of legumes or green-
manure crops. A^Hieat is occasionally worked into the crop rotation
on lighter and more sandy soils.

The adaptation of certain crops to particular soil types is generally
recognized, but is not carried into the system of farming except in a
general way. The staple farm crops are grown on all types over the
county. The black, heavy prairie soils, where well drained, are
recognized as the strongest corn land because of their high plant-
food and organic-matter content. These soils, together with Peat,
Muck, and occasionally the Clarion soils, are used for sugar-beet pro-
duction. The Clarion loam also produces excellent corn and forage
crops. Wheat is grown principally in the southwestern and eastern
parts of the county, on the sandier and more rolling Carrington types.
The narrow bottom or Wabash types are almost wholly used for
pasture because of frequent overflows. There is not, however, a
marked difference in the types of farming followed on the different
soils of the county.

Ordinary farm machinery is used on all soils over the county.
The farm equipment usually consists of the latest labor-saving ma-
chinery. There were 167 silos in the county in 191ft. with many new
ones under construction. Fifteen thousand three hundred and
twenty-eight tons of silage was put up.

New and larger houses have nearly displaced the smaller houses of
the earlier settlers. Nearly all the farmhouses are of wood. Power
elevators, gasoline engines for pumping, .trucks, and tractors are
used over the entire county.

Plowing is still done mostly by horses, although an annually in-
creasing acreage is being broken by tractors. Both the 4 and 5 horse
hitches are used in plowing, 5 horses where the heavier soil types are
worked. Fall plowing is quite generally practiced when possible,
for the wet condition of much of the land will permit only very
shallow plowing in the spring, particularly in wet seasons. The
usual depth of fall plowing is from 4 to 6 inches. The heavier soil
types, if plowed when too wet, bake on drying, the soil particles be-
coming cemented together into adobelike clods that seriously in-
terfere with the further preparation of the seed bed and with sub-
sequent cultivation. Care must also be taken on these types to pre-
vent the forming of a hard and impervious plow sole, by changing

20 rn:Li) operations of tmk bureau of soils, ioid.

tlu' tlcpth of plowing eucli year. Such ti()iil)les have heeu reported
hy a miml)er of farmers on the Wei)ster soils.

ArtiHcial (lraina«;e is necessary over a hir^je part of the county to
insure maximum production. Lar<re open ditches or 42-inch con-
crete tile mains are used to conduct the excess water to the natural
stream courses. Laterals of various sizes, depending on the water
to be carried, extend back in all directions to the low and depressed
areas. In the flat fields tile laterals are placed from 4 to 6 rods apart.
In the smaller and heavier pockets it is necessary to lay them as close
as 50 feet to provide adequate drainage.

Ver\' little lime has been used on the soils of the county. The
local farm bureau rei:)orts that six carloads of crushed limestone
were used in 1918, mostly in the southeastern and southwestern parts
of the county. Many of the soil types would be benefited by liming,
but a large percentage of the black silty clay loam of the Webster
series is slightly calcareous at the surface, and here application of
lime would not be })rofitable.

According to the United States Census $4,891 was expended for
fertilizers on 48 farms in 1919. Both acid phosphate and complete
commercial fertilizers are used. Barnyard manure is applied mostly
to corn land. The quantity produced is insufficient to maintain the
supply of organic matter in the soil, except possibly on the heavy
Webster soils that have been in cultivation only a comparatively
short time.

Weeds of many varieties give considerable trouble, particularly in
wet seasons. The weeds reported most frequently are quack grass,
cocklebur, foxtail, morning-glory, Russian thistle, burdock, pink
smart-weed, and wild mustard. These occur in widely scattered lo-
calities and generally only in small patches in the fields.

There was a rapid increase in the number of farms in the county
from 1880 to 1900. but the individual acreage reached its maximum
in 1900. The United States census shows 785 farms in 1880, and
1.885 in 1900. The average size of the farms increased from 140 acres
in 1880 to a maximum of 195.1 acres in 1900. The number of farms
reported by the 1920 census is 1.927, and the average size is given
as 178.8 acres. The Iowa Agricultural yearbook for 1918 reports
the total area occupied by buildings, feed lots, and public highways
as 17,340 acres, and the total acreage in pasture is given as 70.670.
The waste land that can not be utilized for any purpose is 5.935
acres. The majority of farms vary in size from 120 to 200 acres.

Farms operated by tenants have increased rapidly in number, as
many of the owners have moved to tow^n. The 1920 census shows
45.5 per cent operated by owners, 53.3 per cent by tenants, and 1.2
per cent by managers.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 21

Most tenants prefer the share rent system, cash rent being paid
for pasture hind. On the share rent basis the owner generally re-
ceives one-half of the crops, delivered at the elevator. The work
stock and farm implements are furnished by the tenant. In addition
cash is paid for pasture land. "\Miere farms are rented for cash the
ordinary rates range from $7 to $15 per acre, depending on location
of farm and the character of drainage and general improvements.
For a few of the very highly improved farms a rental as high as $20
per acre is paid. Pasture and hay land rent for $5 to $7 an acre.

Recently sufficient farm labor has not been available, particularly
during the harvest time and the corn-husking season. Most of the
farm help is hired by the year. At the present time (1918) from
$40 to $50 per month is paid, including boarcl and washing. A few
farms are reported paying as high as $60 to $G5. During the grain-
harvest season the wages range from $3.50 to $5 per day; for corn
plowing $3 to $3.50; haying $4 to $4.50; and for thrashing from
$4.50 to $5. Corn buskers are paid from 6 to 7 cents per bushel.

The price of land is quite variable over the county. An unpre-
cedented rise in values took place between March 1 and September 1,
1918. Some farms sold during the latter part of that season brought
twice the price asked in March. All improved lands increased in
value from $50 to $100 an acre. The most highly improved farms
lying close to the larger towns can now (1919) be bought for $325
to $400 an acre, well-improved farms 6 to 8 miles from town for
$225 to $275 an acre, and poorly drained upland, with practically
no improvements, and some of the lighter sandy soils for $160 to
$200 an acre. The average value of well-improved land is between
$250 and $300 an acre.

SOILS.

The material from which the soils of "Wright County are derived
is drift of the Wisconsin glaciation. This deposit consists of more
or less finely ground rock, sand, gravel, and bowlders formed by
the action of the ice on the underlying limestone, sandstone, and shale
formation. The till plain, which comprises the smoother parts of
the area, is covered by material spread out and packed by the
glacier in its passage over the region. This drift approaches a loam
in texture. The morainic hills in the eastern part of the area are
composed of more variable materials. The finer materials predomi-
nate, but pockets of sand, gravel, and bowlders occupy the crests of
the highest elevations. Beds of gravel outcrop in places on the
steeper slopes. The unmodified drift is a yellow or gray compact
mass quite retentive of moisture. Limestone fragments and finer
particles from the same source form a large proportion of the
material.

63164°— 22 4

22 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

It is now Itflitved that tlio characteristics of the soil in its pres-
ent stji«je of (k'velopiiunt have i)een (iclermined to a greater extent
by the soil- form iiii; })rocesses, which have resulted in the accumii-
Intion of or^^anif matter and in the weathei'in^, leaching, and oxi-
dation of tlie matciial iieai* the surface, than by original differences
in the character of the material.

The soils of Wrigiit County were developed under the influence
<d' a native vegetation consisting of a heavy growth of grasses.
This vegetation was favored ])V a smootii but not flat topography
and a rather high moisture supply. The original constructional
surface of the region, with its poorly drained areas unfavorable to
tree growth, and its heavy grasses that spread fires, prevented the
encroacliment of forest.

The heavy growth of grasses, flourishing upon soils generally re-
tentive of moisture, resulted in tlie accumulation of large quantities
of organic matter. This was in the form of finely tlivided carbona-
ceous material, chiefly derived from decomposed grass roots and in-
timately mixed with the mineral constituents of the surface soil.
The percentage of the organic matter and the tlepth to which it
affected the color and physical structure was determined very largely
by aAeragc drainage conditions. On flats and in sloughs the black
organic matter extends to a depth of "20 to 30 inches, while on the
high, well-drained ridges it does not affect the soil below a depth
of a few inches. The accumulation is also shallow in sandy spots
where the drainage is excessive. Muck and Peat represent extreme
conditions with respect to accumulation of organic matter. The de-
velopment of the upland soils is determined partly by the topographic
position. On the flat or undulating areas the average moisture con-
tent was formerly high, and the ground-water level was within 2 or
3 feet of the surface and in places higher. Consequently there was
a large accumulation of carbonaceous material in the surface soil
and upper subsoil, while the lower subsoil almost escaped leaching
and oxidation, resulting in a deep black soil filled with organic mat-
ter over a light-colored or mottled calcareous subsoil. These are the
characteristic features of the soils which have been classed with the
"Webster series. Similar conditions in the sloughs and dei)ressions
and on the poorly drained terraces give rise to the soils of the Fargo
series.

Where the topograpliy ranges from gently to sharply rolling the
better surface drainage, the more vigorous movement of the soil
water, and deeper aeration have resulted in leaching and oxidation
to a depth of 3 or 4 feet. Soils of this group are represented by the
Carrington series and occur along the better drained stream valleys
and over the morainic hills. The typical profile has a dark-brown
surface horizon with a fine granular structure, ranging in depth from

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 23

8 to 18 inches. This is underlain by a horizon of dark brown, usually
very thin or only a few indies in thickness. The lower subsoil is
brown or yellowish brown, heavier in texture than the upper horizon,
and usually friable and coarsely g^-anular. The carbonates have, as
a rule, been removed to a depth of more than 3 feet below the surface.

To this group of soils belongs the Waukesha loam of the terraces.
It has a profile similar to the Carrington in general appearance and
differs from that series only in topographic position and origin. Al-
though it is composed of material^^ of alluvial deposition, its compo-
sition is probably not greatly different from that of the Carrington
soils.

The Buckner series, which also belongs to this group of soils, has
dark-brown soils underlain by brown subsoils of a similar texture to
a depth of more than 3 feet. The friable uniform subsoils distinguish
these soils from the Waukesha series, which have heavier subsoils.

The soils of the Clarion series belongs to a stage of development
intermediate between the Webster and the Carrington groups. The
topography ranges from undulating to gently rolling. The series
occupies the more gentle slopes near the small streams and poorly
drained areas within areas of the Carrington soils. The better
drainage as compared with the Webster soils has resulted in more
or less leaching to a depth of 3 or 4 feet. The surface soils are dark
brown to black. The upper subsoil grades downward from a dark
brown into a brown, and the texture is heavier than that of the
surface soil, being a silty clay loam. The unweathered lower sub-
soil is grayish brown to gray, approaching the color of the glacial
drift from which it is derived. It has sufficient carbonates to
effervesce with acid, and streaks of lime and lime concretions are
common.

The terrace soils of the Bremer series have also been developed
under conditions of poor drainage. The surface soils are almost
black and usually have a fine granular structure. They are under-
lain by a mottled gray, yellow, and brown subsoil somewhat heavier
as a rule than the surface soil. The carbonates have been largely
removed to a depth of more than 3 feet, and in this respect they
differ from the Fargo soils, which have a higher percentage of lime
in the subsoil.

The soils of the O'Neill series are dark brown to black. The sub-
soils are light textured . and give excessive drainage to the soil.
These soils are leached of their lime to a depth of several feet.

The soils of the Wabash series were for the most part originally
forested, but owe their dark color to Ix-ing made up of recent alluvial
deposition of material from other dark-colored soils. These soils

24

IIHLl) OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1»1!>.

occur on the tirst bottonib. They are .siiljject to overflow and are for
the most part poorly drained.

The soils of this area have been (.lillen-ntiated into series on the
basis of color, striu-ture, and tiie general appearance of the soil
prolile. The series is further ditferentiated into types u])(iii the basis
of texture.

The followijig taljje <4i\es the names and the actual and relative
extent of the soil types mapped in this county:

Areas o/ dilfcrcnt soil.'i.

SoU.

Webster sllty clay loam

Webster loam

Carriugton loam

Clariou loam

Wabash loam

O'Neil loam

Buckner loam

Carrlngton sandy loam

Carrington fine sandy loam .
Muck

Acres.

108, 736
92, 288
81,216
51,264
6,848
4,608
4,416
3, 048
3,520
2,944

Per cent.

29.5
25.1
22.1'
13.9
1.9
1.2
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.8

Soil.

Peat

Fargo silty clay loam . . .
Wabash silty clay loam.

Waukesha loam

Bremer silt loam

Fargo loam

Gravel pits

Total.

Acres.

368,000

Percent.

2,432

0.7

1,984

0.5

1,856

0.5

960

0.3

7W

0.2

384

0.1

192

0.1

CABRINGTO.V S.^NDY LOAM.

The surface soil of the Carrington sandy loam, to a depth of 10
inches, is a brown to dark-brown sandy loam. The subsoil is a
coarse yellowish-brown sandy loam, having a grayish cast and con-
taining considerable silty material. Many small pieces of rock,
coarse sand, and gravel are incorporated in both the surface soil
and subsoil.

There is a considerable variation in texture over this type. The
more gentle slopes contain a higlier percentage of organic matter
and are of a more loamy character. Along the tops and sides of the
ridges and knoblike crests of the hills the surface covering is gener-
ally a sandy to fine sandy loam underlain by loose, calcareous,
gravelly material. Small rock fragments, assorted gravel, and oc-
casional bowlders are scattered over the surface and embedded in
the soil layer.

The Carrington sandy loam is practically all found in the south-
eastern corner of the county, in Blaine and Vernon Townships,
where it occupies the conspicuous extended chain of hills in this
moraine section. A few smaller ridges and knolls covered with
this soil are scattered throughout the county, many of them too
small to justify separate mapping. Tavo miles northwest of Dows,
in section 26, Blaine Township, a prominent hill of glacial origin —

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA, 25

a kame — has a gravelly surface soil underlain at a depth of 15 to
18 inches by a coarse calcareous gravel.

The Carrington sandy loam is easy to till under a wide range of
moisture conditions. Because of the loose structure crops are fre-
quently damaged in droughty periods.

All the staple crops are grown, including corn. Clover and forage
crops do well and are particularly needed to help maintain the sup-
ply of organic matter in the soil. Average croj) yields are slightly
less than on the Carrington loam.

The surface soil is acid over most of the type, except on the nar-
row areas along the crests of the ridges and their immediate slopes,
where calcareous material is encountered within 10 to 30 inches of
the surface. On the lower slopes an alkaline reaction is rarely ob-
tained. Lime and phosphatic fertilizer should prove profitable where
used in growing clover and other legumes. Rye is an excellent nurse
crop for clover.

Because of its loose and porous nature, this soil should have par-
ticular care after planting. A dry mulch should be maintained over
as much of the growing period as possible.

Seasonal variations have considerable influence on production, the
higher yields being obtained in the more moist seasons.

The selling price of the land ranges from $150 to $250 an acre.^

CARRINGTON FINE SANDY LOAM.

The Carrington fine sandy loam is a brown to dark-brown fine
sandy loam to a depth of 18 to 20 inches, where it passes into a
light yellowish brown fine sandy loam, which becomes coarser with
depth. The content of organic matter in the surface soil is low
compared with the other soils of the area, as shown by the color.
The surface soils are acid except on the gravelly ridges. Gravel
and small bowlders are found on the surface and throughout the
soil section. Most of the bowlders have been removed from the
cultivated fields.

Numerous small outcrops of gravellj^ materials mixed with
bowlders of assorted sizes appear at the sharper breaks and knolls
along the hill crests. Gray calcareous sand particles, loose or ce-
mented to rocks and pebl^les, are always present in these gravel beds.

This type occupies broken hills and ridges north and east of Elm
and Cornelia Lakes, and the higher hills along the Iowa River from
5 miles south of Belmond to where the stream leaves the county
about 1 mile north of Dows. It also occurs in small disconnected
strips and scattered areas north of Rowan.

This soil should be handled in the same manner as the Carrington
sandy loam.

^ Land prices given In this report pertain to the year 1919.

26 FllXD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

fAKKINrjTON I.OA.M.

The surface soil of the Carrinfifton loam is a dark-brown, mellow,
friablo loam, 12 to 10 inches deep, with an av<'ra<:e depth of about 14
inihes. This is undcrhiin by a yellowish-brown silty clay loam to
clay loam, faintly mottled with gray and yellow in the lower depths.
Coarse sand particles and occasional (rlacial j^ebbles are scattered
throu<j:h the subsoil layer. In places a gritty, coarse clay loam is
encountered at a depth of 28 to 30 inches, and iron stains are found
here and there.

The Carrington loam is most extensively developed in the morainic
areas in the eastern half of the county, where the topography is
gently rolling to rolling. Other areas are found in the Avestern part,
along the Boone Kiver and extending back along its tributaries.

The soil of this type is somewhat variable in texture and depth.
In the morainic region the surface soil is shallower, lighter in color,
and contains a higher percentage of fine sand than where found on
the gentle slopes along the smaller stream courses. Numerous out-
crops of calcareous sand and gravel occur along the tops of ridges
and knolls. Many narroAv draws and depressions lying between
these hills and occupied by heavy black silty clay loam are included
in this type.

In the southwestern part of the county, along the steeper slopes
of the Boone River, erosion has exposed large patches of yellowish-
broAvn, gritty, clayey drift material. The Boone Eiver, in forming a
large bend about 2^ miles northwest of Woolstock, has cut into the
upland, leaving a perpendicular wall of this till, 30 to 40 feet high
and about 2 miles in length. These steeper eroded hillsides have
little value except as pasture land. Many of them are wooded and
support a natural growth of bluegrass.

A variation occurs in sections 23, 25, and 36 in Troy Township,
along the east bank of the Boone River. Here the soil is a whitish-
gray silt loam at the surface and passes into a tenacious grayish-
brown subsoil containing many yellow mottlings and some iron
stains. The subsoil has an imj^ervious structure resembling hard-
pan. These areas are small, flat, and scattered, and contain a total
of about 25 acres. Because of their small area and close association
with the Carrington loam they were included with this type.

In Belmond Township, and in small, widely separated areas on
some of the flat, gently sloping hillsides, the surface soils contain a
higher percentage of silt and less fine sand than the typical Carring-
ton loam. The texture here approaches a silt loam.

The surface drainage and underdrainage are excellent over most
of the Carrington loam. On a few of the broad, flat tops, and gentle
slopes of the hills artificial drainage is beneficial. Very few gullies

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 27

have been formed by erosion. The areas of this type vary consider-
ably in elevation, but lie hio^her than any other soils in the county
except the Clarion loam east of Clarion.

Nearly all this type is under cultivation. The rougher and more
rolling areas adjacent to the streams are usually kept in grass.
Forest areas are confined to narrow slopes along watercourses and
are not extensive.

This soil type does not contain as much organic matter as the
black Webster soils, but has better natural drainage, is very pro-
ductive, and is one of the most desirable types in the county for
general farming. The soil is mellow, easily worked, and warms up
early in the spring. It has excellent moisture-holding capacity.
Only small parts of the type on the more sandy knolls are affected
by drought.

The usual staple farm crops do well on this type. Wheat growing
in the county is largely confined to this soil. Raising and feeding of
beef cattle and hogs is carried on extensively, and some horses and
sheep are raised for sale. Most of the apples and other fruits raised
are produced on this type.

The crop yields are comparable with those on the Webster soils.
The corn crop may be somewhat lighter in dry years but Avill outyield
the soils in the flatter areas in wet seasons. AMieat yields 15 to 30
bushels, with an average of about 20 bushels per acre. Spring wheat
is grown almost exclusively. Small grains mature from 5 to 10
days earlier than on the heavier prairie soils.

Barnyard manure is applied on corn land. Some green-manure
crops are turned under to help maintain the organic matter supply.
Little commercial fertilizer is used.

The surface soil over the greater part of the Carrington loam is
acid. Applications of limestone would be beneficial, particularly
to clover land. Deeper plowing and more frequent raising and turn-
ing under of leguminous crops to supplement the organic matter ob-
tained'from the application of barnyard manures would increase the
productivity of these soils.

The land values on the Carrington loam range from $175 to $300 an
acre, depending on location, improvements, and general condition of
the farm.

WEBSTER LOAM.

The surface soil of the Webster loam is a black, friable, heavy loam
from 10 to 16 inches deep. The subsoil to 20 to 22 inches is a very
dark brown to black plastic loam, and below this a yellowish-brown,
crumbly silty clay loam, highly mottled with yellow and olive gray.
The subsoil is strongly calcareous and contains many lime nodules.
It is very heavy and plastic, but is gritty in the lowest depths, where

28 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919,

considerable coarse sand and occasional pebbles are incorporated.
The iinderlyinu: drift material, occurrin*^ below the -'i-foot section, is
a yellowish-brown to •2:ray, mottled clay loam, highly calcareous and
containing; much coarse material. This type has developed under
conditions of restricted draiiia^^e Avhich have favored the accumula-
tion of large (piantities of organic matter in the surface soil and pre-
vented the rapid leaching and oxidation of the subsoil.

The surface soil in the flatter areas is higli in silt and clay, and
frecjuently approaches a silty clay loam in texture. V>'liere the sur-
face relief is broken with low, moundlike elevations, much coarse
material is present in both surface soil and sul)Soil.

Within areas of the Webster loam are many large irregular-
shaped depressions and formerly ponded areas oc<.upied by the
Webster silty clay loam. These two types, differentiated on the
basis of texture and drainage, merge so gradually in places that
the boundaries between them must often be more or less arbitrary.

This type covers the greater part of the western half of the
county. In the southern half of the county it extends eastward
over the Wall Lake region to the morainic divide coming down
from the east-central part of the county. Smaller disconnected
areas are found in the northeastern corner of the county and
throughout the morainic region, generally bordering ponded areas
or poorly drained flats.

Natural drainage is poorly developed, owing to the flat topog-
raphy, the only adequately drained parts being the low mounds
and ridges interspersed throughout the area. The run-off was
very slow imtil large ditches were dug to drain the numerous swales
and depressions in which water collected.

This type forms some of the most desirable land in the State.
The soil is very retentive of moisture, and droughts have never
caused a crop failure. Excess o-f rainfall during the gi^owing season
is likely to cut down the crop yields materially. The soil is later
than the Carrington type, there being a difference of 5 to 10 days
in maturity of crops.

Most of the type is in cultivated crops or tame grasses. In the
northeastern and northwestern parts of the county, on some of the
poorly drained areas, the original prairie grasses flourish. The only
forest areas are artificially i)lanted windbreaks and woodlots.

Com is particularly suited to the Webster loam. It is grown
more extensively and can be grown continuously for longer periods
on this land than on other types. ' The yields range from 40 to 80
bushels per acre, with an average of about 50 bushels. Oats ordi-
narily produce from 40 to 75 bushels per acre, and timothy and
clover IJ to 1} tons per acre. Some clover and alfalfa are grown
and do well when the soils are well drained. Alfalfa vieldg from

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 29

3 to 3^ tons per acre. Very little wheat is grown. Sugar beets
occupy a large acreage on this soil. They yield from 10 to 16 tons
per acre, averaging about 12 tons. Potatoes do well in the more
loamy places, but the tendency is to grow too much vine.

An alternation of com and oats largely comprises the present
rotation. An occasional seeding to timothy and clover is coming
into practice on many farms. On some tenant fanns corn has been
grown in the same fields for a period of years. Soy beans are
grown occasionally in the corn when it is to be hogged down or
used for silage. Fruit growing is confined to a few trees on the
individual farms.

Farms on this soil type are well improved. Rents ordinarily
range from $7 to $15 an acre, depending on drainage, productivity
of the farm, and improvements. The price of land varies from $225
to $350 an acre. A few highly improved farms located near Eagle
Grove and Clarion sold recently (1919) for $400 an acre.

Drainage is the first improvement needed to produce maximum
crops. The tile laterals are usually placed from 4 to 6 rods apart.
Care should be taken to get sufficient fall in both laterals and mains
to carry away promptly the excessive rainfall.

Fall plowing should be practiced where possible, to allow earlier
work in fields. A system of crop rotation to include timothy, clover,
and other legumes, should be followed. Where good drainage is
established, alfalfa will make an excellent growth and yield. The
return of all the stable manure produced, supplemented by S3^stem-
atic turning under of green-manure crops, should keep up the fer-
tility of the soils without the use of commercial fertilizers, except
where special crops are grown.

WEBSTER SIT.TY CLAY LOAM.

The Webster silty clay loam, to a depth usually ranging from 12
to 24 inches, is a black, sticky clay loam. This is underlain by a
layer of dark-brown or mottled gray and brown, tough clay loam
or clay having a thickness of a few inches. The lower subsoil is the
parent material or glacial till, which has been modified only to a very
slight extent by leaching or oxidation. In texture it is usually a
clay loam, and in color gray or a gray mottled with j^ellow or brown.
Where the lighter color prevails, the lower subsoil contains much
white, silty, floury material, and the structure is quite friable. ^ATien
dry it has a whitish-gray color and is either granular or chalky. In
places a heavy mottled or olive-gray clay subsoil extends to a depth
of 3 feet or more. A characteristic feature of the lower subsoil of
this type, whatever its color or texture, is the presence of a large
amount of lime. This lime has not accumulated in the subsoil, but

30 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THH BUREAU OK SOn.S, 1910.

is lime of the original ilrii't whieh has not been leached out. In
phices the surface soil is sulHciently calcareous to effervesce with acid,
but as a rule the lime is not abundant in tlie material within '20 inches
of the surface. T^ime concretions and small shells are abundant in
the newly (lraine<| ^oij.

The local variations that occur in the tyjx' arc due mainly to dif-
ferent conditions of drainage.. As a rule the lower areas that have
the most ivstricted draina<;e have accumulated a lar^jer amount of
or^^anic matter, and the l>lack color of the soil extends to a <;reater
depth, in some places to more than 3 feet. Small si)ots of Peat and
Muck, too small to indicate separately, have been included on the
soil map within areas of this type. In some of these hnv areas the
soils are heavier in texture than on the surrounding higher land,
owing to washing in of fine material. These clay areas, too small to
map. are scattered throughout the type and are locally known as
'' gumbo."

In the narrow draws and sloughlike areas of tlie morainic region
the subsoil below 30 inches usually consists of layers of coarse
gravelly material, grayish in color. The depth of the black surface
and subsurface layer varies from place to place, ranging from 15
inches to 3 or 4 feet.

The interstream area between Eagle Creek and White Fox Creek,
in the southern part of Dayton and the northern part of Woolstock
Township, mapped as AVebster silty clay loam, while lying flat, con-
tains a higlwr percentage of silt and sand in the surface layer and
consequently is slightly lighter in texture than the typical soil.

The Webster silty clay loam usually occupies depressed areas on
the flat interstream divides, which were formerly in a swamp con-
dition or covered at times by shallow water. They also occur in the
morainic area, lying in undrained sloughs and flats between the hills.

The drainage is naturally poor but has been improved by ditching
over the greater part of the area. Large oi>en drainage ditches,
8 to 15 feet deep, furnish outlets for the tile drains. Owing to the
impervious character of the subsoil these lateral drains should not
be more than 40 feet apart.

When properly drained and handled this is one of the most pro-
ductive soils in the county. It has a higher plant-food reserve than
any other type. Puddling and baking, with consequent clod forma-
tion, will result if the ground is plowed when wet. In dry seasons,
if the surface is not stirred frequently, large cracks develop in the
fields with injury to crops. While the greater part of the soil is
under cultivation, a considerable area is yet undrained and is used
for hay and jjasture land. Practically all the wild hay produced
in the county is harvested from this type.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 31

Grain farming is mostly practiced where this type is well drained.
The soil is particularly adaj)ted to corn because of the high humus
content. Early-maturing varieties are desirable, the growing season
being shorter than on higher lying and better drained tyi^es. Short-
st rawed varieties of oats are preferred, as they are less likely to
lodge.

Corn yields xnry greatly on this type, depending on the seasonal
conditions, extent of drainage, and care given the crop. The yields
range from 25 to 70 bushels per acre. Oats yield from 25 to 50
bushels, and hay from 1 to 2| tons per acre. Sugar beets are grown
in many places where the surface has a shallow loamy covering.
They yield from 10 to 15 tons per acre.

The Webster silty clay loam is generally associated in the farms
with the Carrington and Clarion types or the Webster loam. It
brings about the same prices as the Webster loam. The untiled and
undrained areas, where there is a possibility of drainage, sell for
much lower prices, ranging from $150 to $225 an acre.

The most important factor in the improvement of this land is
drainage. Deeper fall plowing and generous applications of barn-
yard manure will greatly improve the physical condition and tilth
of the soil.

Narrow strips of land containing a concentration of salts, mostly
calcium carbonate, occur in some depressions in this type, along the
margins of Muck and Peat beds and the edges of areas formerly
ponded. Corn and oats usually fail on these patches, while other
crops are not seriously affected or may even thrive. This alkali con-
dition can be remedied by thorough drainage. Stover and straw are
beneficial when ploAved under deeply, and heavy applications of
barnyard manure markedly improve the affected areas.

CLARION LOAM.

The Clarion loam in its principal characteristics represents a
transition between the Carrington loam and the Webster loam. The
local variations in the type itself are due to the different conditions
of drainage under which the soil has been developed. In low or
nearly flat areas, where little aeration or oxidation could take place,
but where conditions were favorable for the accumulation of organic
matter, the type has a black soil, 12 to 20 inches deep, underlain
by a gray, highly calcareous subsoil, and the soil profile approaches
that of the Webster loam. Occasional iron stains and nuuiorous
lime concretions are found in the lower subsoil. On the higher,
gently rolling areas, where drainage has been better, the surface soil
has a dark-brown color and is shallower, ranging from 6 to 12 inches.
The upper subsoil is a dark -brown clay loam, which passes gradually

.'52 FlKLl) OPERATIONS OF THH lU'REAU OF SOILS, HUD.

iiitd a Iti'owii, iiKHc I'rialilc clax- loam. At dcptlis (if liO to .'iO inches
till' sliirlitly o.\i(li/.(Ml glacial till is I'licoiiiitcnMl. It is a li;i;ht-l)i()\vM.
yi'llowisli-hrowii, or <rrayish-y('llo\v, I'riaWlc clu}^ loam or silty clay
loam. In tlu> rolIin<; ai'cas (he ui)])er two layers are not essentially
different iVoni the coi'respondiiii:- horizons <>\' the (^irrin^ton loam.
The dill'ert'nce lietweeii the two types is the pivsence of lime in the
sul)st)il of the Clarion loam, an indication that leachin<^ and oxidation
in the Clarion have not reached to a depth of 3 feet.

The two soil profiles described as e.xti'emes of the type are the
jirodncts of diU'ei'ent sta<res of weatlieiin<; and leac!iin<r. The type
passes on the one hand into the A\'el)sti'r loam and on the other
hand into the Carrin<;ton loam, but between the two are all grada-
tions i-esulting from ditrerences in the drainage.

Some variation in both soil and subsoil is due to differences in
the composition of the original drift. Small (juantities of coarse
sand, pebbles, and small Ixjwlders, composed of (juartzite, granite,
and limestone are scattered through the soil and subsoil but are
usually more abundant in the lower subsoil. With this type, as
with the Carrington soils, are included narrow strips on the crests
of ridges and on steep liill slopes where the dark-colored surface
soil has been eroded away so as to expose the light-colored calcare-
ous parent till. Usually near the surface on such areas pockets or
beds of sand and gravel are numerous.

The Clarion loam occurs in all parts of the county, but the areas
of the type are larger and more abundant on the gentle slopes to-
ward the streams. Areas with the dark-brown surface soil are also
found on some of the morainic hills where erosion has not removed
the surface soil faster than weathering could take place.

This tjqoe is highly productive. Before the AVebster soils were
drained it was the most valuable soil of the area. The high lime
content of the subsoil indicates that it has not been leached l)ut has
all its original soluble constituents. Fertilizers are not used, as it
has not been demonstrated that the application of any form of plant
food is immediately profitable. Over the greater part of the area
no lime is needed. It is possible, however, that the surface soil in
some places is acid and the application of small (luantities would be
beneficial.

The system of farming on this type is similar to that followed on
the Carrington loam. No systematic I'otation of crops is practiced.
Corn, the principal crop, is grown for years in succession in the
same fields. Clover is less freciuently grown than on the Carring-
ton loam. Crop yields are slightly highei' tlian on tlie Carrington
loam, but lower on an average than on the well-drained AVebster
soils.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.

33

The price of this hind at tlie time of the survey (1919) ranged
from $225 to $300 an acre. A few well-improved farms with choice
locations have sold for $350 to $400 an acre.

The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of
sami)les of the soil, subsurface and subsoil of the Clarion loam:

Mechnniral analyses of Clarion loam.

Number.

Description.

Fine
gravel.

Coarse
sand.

Medium
sand.

Fine
sand.

Very fine
sand.

sut.

Clay.

333710

Soil

Per cent.
1.2
1.2
2.1

Per cent.
4.9
6.4
6.8

Per cent.
4.1

5.8
5.9

Per cent.
20.5
27.9
22.7

Per cent.
18.4
17.9
16.4

Per cent.
34.6
28.1
30.3

Per cent.
16.4

333711

Subsurface..
Subsoil

13.1

3.3.3712

15.8

FAKGO LOAM.

The surface soil of the Fargo loam is a dark-brown to black loam
10 inches deep. The upper subsoil is a dark-brown clay loam to clay,
considerably mottled with gray and faintly with j^ellow. Below 28
inches the subsoil is a grayish-brown or yellowish-brown clay loam
to clay, mottled highh' with gray and showing occasional iron stains.
This lower stratum is highly calcareous and contains many small
lime concretions. Coarse sand and gravel are found in small quanti-
ties throughout the soil profile.

This soil is developed on the terraces of the Boone River, 2^ miles
below its point of entrance into the county. One other area is
mapped, in the southeastern corner of the county in section 24,
Vernon Township. The total area of the type is only 384 acres.

This type occupies a flat terrace bench. Owing to its heavy sub-
soil it is very retentive of moisture. The soil has a high content of
organic matter and produces good yields.

Included with this tj'pe is a small area of Fargo very fine sandy
loam. The surface soil is a dark-brown, mellow very fine sandy loam
18 inches deep, and the subsoil a dull-brown to dark-brown silty
clay loam. The latter is noncalcareous, contains a relatively high
percentage of fine sand particles, and is loamy. This soil lies on the
east side of the Boone River, where it enters Hamilton County about
2^ miles west and south of Woolstock. It covers about 20 acres, is
well drained, and is in cultivation.

FARGO STT-TY CLAY LOAM.

The Fargo silty clay loam consists of 6 to 8 inches of black
tenacious silty clay to clay loam, underlain by black clay loam con-
taining gray mottlings. BeloAv 22 inches the subsoil is a grayish-

34

FIELD OPERATIONS OF TIIK lUTREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

brown to ^I'Uowish-hrown clay loiuii having a <rrayish chalky ap-
penraiK-e wlien ilry. Calcareous nodules are found quite generally
thr()U<:hout the .sul)soil section. The surface soil usually <rives an
alkaline reaction. The Mack soil stratum in places occupies the en-
tire 3-foot depth. The suiface soil is not always uniform in texture,
sand and <xra\el particles hcinn^ incorporated in places.

The type usually occupies the (lat and (lei)ressed areas at the back
of the lower terraces abutting on the uplanil. Narrow strips lie along
the Towa T\iver through its course in. the county, but are nowhere
continuous for any great distance. The largest area, covering about
200 acres, is situated on a small creek 2^ miles southwest of the point
where the Towa Tviver leaves the county. Small areas are found west
and south of Kagle Grove along Boone Kiver.

The natural drainage is not suflicicnt for maximum crop pro-
duction, and tile drains must be used to carry away the excess w^ater.
Many of these areas Avere formerly ponds, and a few are still un-
drained. The soil is very productive, crop yields being comparable
with those on the strong upland soils. This type is usually farmed
in fields with the sandier terrace types.

The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of
samples of the soil, subsurface, and subsoil of this type.

Mcrlnniical aiuiliifcx of Favfio .'^ilfu clay loam.

Number.

Description.

Fine
gravel.

Coarse
sand.

Medium
sai*d.

Fine
sand.

Very fine
sand.

sut.

Clay.

333720

Soil

Per cent.
0.6
1.2
2.6

Per cent.
4.6
5.2
5.4

Per cent.
5.0
5.0
4.5

Per cent.
16.5
12.8
13.7

Per cent.
10.1
11.1

8.9

Per cent.

46.8
43.8
47.6

Per cent.
16.7

33272)

Subsurface..
Subsoil

20.7

333722

17.3

BUCKNER LOAM.

The Buckner loam consists of a browm to dark-brown loam, passing
at 10 to 14 inches into a yellowish-brown sandy loam to fine sandy
loam. The soil section contains coarse sand and small gravel at all
dejiths. but in greater quantities in the Iowtf part. Small pieces of
white flint rock particles occur in the subsoil occasionally. No
calcareous material is present.

The Buckner loam is underlain by gravel at 4 to 6 feet below
the surface. Pockets of gravel occur here and there throughout the
type under small depressed areas, and occasionally can be reached
w-ithin the 3- foot section 10 to 20 feet back from the overflow lands.

Among the terrace soils the Buckner loam is second in extent of
area, the O'Neill loam being first. It occurs along the entire course

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 35

of the Iowa River, begiiininn; '> miles south of Belmond, and north
along the Boone River, beginning west of Eagle Grove. A small
area is found 4 miles north of Woolstock and one to the west of
Woolstock along Eagle Creek.

The areas of this type are disconnected bodies, irregular in shape,
and with a wide variation in length and width. They extend back
from the river a maximum distance to a point 1^ miles east of
Cornelia Lake. Two benchlike elevations occur along the Iowa
River, the first being about 10 feet and the second from 15 to 25 feet
above first bottom or overflow. The surface is for the most part
flat, with a gentle incline toward the stream, and is little modified
by stream erosion. The drainage is excellent.

Nearly all the Buckner loam is in cultivation to staple crops. The
subsoil is fairly retentive of moisture, and crops suffer from lack
of moisture only in prolonged droughts. Only a few farms con-
sist wholly of this type. The soil is mellow, easy to cultivate, and
produces yields comparable to those on the adjacent upland types.
Corn yields 30 to 50 bushels in normal seasons.

The foremost problem on the Buckner loam, as on all porous ter-
race types, is the maintenance of organic-matter suppl3^ Much
barnyard manure should l^e supplied to meet this deficiency and
increase the moisture-holding power. Iveguminous crops plowed
under would be beneficial. Applications of lime should precede
clover.

The price of farm land on the Buckner loam ranges from $150 to
$250 an acre.

A sandy variation of the Buckner loam, occurring in several small
areas 5 miles south of Belmond, consists of 10 to 14 inches of brown
sandy loam to loam, grading into a yellowish-brown fine sandy loam,
becoming lighter in color with depth. Considerable coarse sand
and occasional small gravel are present in the lower subsoil.

This variation occupies a very slightly higher position than the
typical Buckner loam, with which it is closely associated. This soil
is all under cultivation. It has the same agricultural value and the
same selling price as the typical soil.

O'NEILL LOAM.

The surface soil of the O'Neill loam consists of a dark-brown fri-
able loam 12 inches deep. The subsoil is a slightly lighter brown
sandy loam to fine sandy loam to a depth of about 28 inches, Avhere
it passes into a brown to reddish-brown fine sandy loam, containing
much coarse material and pebbles. At from 30 to 40 inches stratified
noncalcareous gravel and sand are encountered. Some gravel is
found in both the surface soil and upper subsoil layers.

36 FIELD OPERATION'S OF 'IIIK lU'HKAU OF SOILS, 1911).

l*i'actic:illy nil i\\v ( )'Nrill loiiiii occiiis aloii^ i\\v uj)})or course of
the Iowa K'ixcr and I lie West liraiicli in a I'ather continuous body 7
miles lon^' and about 1] miles wide. It is intersected l)v tlie windin<j;s
of the river channel. It has a flat, henchlikc surface and lies into 15
feet al)o\e oxcrlhtw. r>e<;innin^ 1 mile north of Bclmond and ex-
tendin<r northward nearly 2^ miles between the Iowa Kiver and the
AN'est r>ranch lies an older tei'race bench l."* to 20 feet al)ove the
normal terrace level. The soil c()\erin<j: here is shallow, aliout 12 to
15 inches thick, and is underlain by coarse irravel. Seveial large
commercial «:ravel pits are in operation on this teri'ace us far south
as lielinond. A few small isolated benches aiv found along Boone
Kivei' south of Kagle (irove and to the east along Kagle Creek,

The internal drainage is good to excessive, owing to the porosity of
the soil material. No streams issuing from the u[)lands cross the type
to give it surface run-off, the rainfall escaping thi-ough |)ercolation
downward. In j)rolonged dry weather the type is somewhat droughty.

It is all under cidtivation except the town site of Belmond and 150
to 200 acres which have been stripped of their surface covering in the
removal of gravel. Corn yields from 25 to 45 bushels per acre in
seasons of normal rainfall, and oats from 25 to 40 bushels. Timothy
and clover give good returns. Potatoes and truck crops ordinarily
yield well.

Land values range from $175 to $300 an acre, according to the dis-
tance from town and the improvements.

This soil is acid throughout the 3-foot section, and applications of
lime would be beneficial, particularly to clover. Turning under green
manures should be practiced to supplement the available barnyard
manure.

BRKMEU .SILT LOAM.

The Bremer silt loam is a dark-l)rown to black friable silt loam
to a depth of about 14 inches, here changing to a brown to dark-
brown plastic clay loam mottled with gray, and below 26 inches to
a yellowish-brown clay loam mottled with gray and yellow. The
lower layer contains fine particles of granite, gneiss, and quartz,
and occasional small pebbles. The surface soil in places is relatively
high in sandy matei'ial and api)roaches a loam in texture.

This soil occupies low terraces on the east side of the Iowa Uiver
1 mile south and l] miles north of Belmond. The largest and
most representative area consists of a strip 2 miles long and one-half
mile wide along a small creek south of Dows.

This type is all in cultivation. The soil is mellow, easily tilled, and
productive, and excellent yields are obtained. Internal drainage
is somewhat imperfect. It can be improved by laying tile drains.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 37

WAtUvKSHA LOAM.

The surface soil of the Waukesha loam is a brown to dark-brown
light-textured loam, 14 inches deep. This is underlain by a sandy
clay loam which when moist is yellowish broAvn and when dry red-
dish brown. Considerable coarse sand, small gravel, and pieces of
granite rock are scattered throughout the soil section. Very small
pieces of a white rock, resembling limestone, are also present, but
negative results were obtained in tests for lime.

Much assorted gravel is found in tlie lower subsoil, the texture
being a gravelly loam to clay loam. This soil diifers from the
O'Neill loam in having more clay incorporated with tlie sand and
gravel in the suV)Soil and on tliat account being less porous and
droughty.

This type occupies the liiglier benchlike terraces along the lower
courses of the Boone River only, and occurs in disconnected areas.
The original level surface has been modified by action of the drain-
age waters from the adjacent uplands and is now gently undulating
to undulating. The coarse material in the soil permits a rapid ab-
sorption of rainfall and gives good internal drainage.

All the tjqDe is under cultivation. The common staple crops are
grown, with normal yields comparable to those on the upland types.
Because of the loose structure of the soil, crop yields are affected
by prolonged droughts, but these are of rare occurrence. Green
manures should be used in addition to stable manure to increase the
organic-matter content, which is low.

WAHASII I.OAM.

The surface soil of the Wabash loam is prevailingly a dark-brown
to black friable loam ranging from 15 to 20 inches in depth. The
subsoil is usually heavier than the surface soil, being a dark-brown
silty clay loam containing some fine and coarse sand. The entire
soil section is quite variable, owing to the alluvial origin of the
materials. Most of the surface soil is reworked annually during the
spring overflows. Consequently, small scattered areas of fine sandy
loam containing varying amounts of coarse material are frequently
encountered. Bodies of silty clay loam too small to separate are in-
cluded with this type.

The Wabash loam occupies the flood plains of the Boone River,
the West Branch of the Iowa, and the Iowa River. Narrow strips
are also found along Otter, Eagle, and White Fox Creeks.

In only a few places is this soil under cultivation. Forest trees
are thinly scattered over the flood plains, the growth being heavier
close to the stream courses.

38 Fii:i.n opERATioi^rs of thk bureau of son.s, 1919.

A luxiiriimt <;r()\vtli of l>lii('<irass over most of tliis area furnishes
oxccllont pasturat^e. Flowin«r wells can be obtained at most points
in this type.

WAHASH SII.TY CI.AY I.OAM.

Tlic snrfaco soil of tiie Wabash silty clay loam c'(msists of 8 inches
of (lark-brown to black heavy ^^ilty clay loam, havin<r a faint grayish
cast. The subsoil is a dark-brown tenacious clay loam to clay,
mottled with j^ray.

This type occui)ies poorly drained (h'aws and depressions through-
out the Wabash loam areas. The total extent is small, and agi-i-
cnltni-ally the type is unimportant. Shallow water covers the
smaller areas during the spring season. Along the upper course
of Otter Creek, where the stream channel is only a few feet deep,
calcareous material is encountered within tlie ;^-foot section. Prac-
tically all of this type is used as pasture land, but a little wild hay
is cut from a part of it.

The Peat soil to a depth of 10 to 18 inches consists chiefly of
decomposed vegetable matter, forming a loose, spongy mass. The
surface is light brown to reddish brown when dry, but dark brown
under normal conditions. The underlying subsoil is a layer of black
tenacious silty clay loam, varying from 10 inches to 2 feet in thick-
ness. This is underlain generally within the 3-foot depth by a
grayish sandy clay to clayey sand. Both subsoil layers are highly
calcareous. Small white shells and lime particles are present on the
surface of the shallower beds.

The natural develojiment of the Peat is in shallow undrained
basins, ponds, or lakes, in which a dense growth of sedges, rushes,
and other aquatic plants abound. The decay and accumulation of
the plant leaves and fibrous roots form a loose, porous, semidecom-
posed vegetable mat. In this raw stage it is of no agricultural value.

The Peat areas in the county have nearly all been drained, many
of them only a short time. In some of the large areas the accumula-
tions are 4 to 5 feet deep near the center of the basin. As a rule,
the depth does not exceed '20 to 24 inches, and in many areas of smaller
size the layer has a thickness of only 6 to 14 inches. A considerable
proportion of silt and clay is found mixed with the vegetable matter
in the smaller areas.

The Peat is widely distributed over the county, in areas ranging
in size from one to several hundred acres. The two largest areas
are located 1| miles west of Dows and onedialf mile east of Wall
Lake. Patches too small to map occur in wet draws and small
depressions on many farms in the heavier black soil areas.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 39

Narrow strips containing alkali concentrations occur along the
margins of many of the Peat areas. Thorough drainage by means
of tile, deep plowing, and heavy applications of manure, are effective
means of correcting this alkali condition.

Millet and timothy give good yields on both deep and shallow Peat,
producing from 1 to 2^ tons of hay per acre. They are the most
profitable crops on the newly drained land. Some farmers grow
flax as the first crop and obtain a fair yield.

Corn and small grains do not do so well. Corn makes a rapid
growth for a few weeks, then becomes stunted in growth and pro-
duces small nubbins. This is usually caused by the presence of
alkali salts which, if concentrated, cause the leaves to turn yellow
when the plant is about 1 foot high and checks further development.
Smair grains usually lodge before the grain can ripen. Sugar beets
are being grown successfully on beds that have undergone consider-
able decomposition. The beets grow very large and yield from 15 to
18 tons per acre. Potatoes are grown on a few acres, generally for
home use. Weeds cause considerable trouble where grain is grown.

The plan of seeding the land to timothy and alsike clover after
draining, and pasturing heavily for several years before growing
crops has been found to give the best results. Thorough drainage
is, of course, the first essential in reclamation. Deeper plowing will
hasten the decomposition by permitting deeper weathering and oxi-
dation. Applications of phosphate and potash might be profitable
when special crops are grown.

MUCK.

The surface soil of Muck is in general similar to that of Peat, the
chief difference being the more advanced stage of decomposition of
the vegetable matter in the case of Muck. The material, when dry,
is loose and fluffy, and the color generally black. Considerable min-
eral matter, mostly silt and clay, is incorporated around the edges of
the Muck deposits, having been washed in from higher adjacent soil
areas. A covering of Peat 2 to 3 inches deep is present on some of
the smaller spots. An alkaline reaction is obtained in many cases
from the surface soil of beds that have been recently drained. Fine
lime particles and white shells lie scattered over the surface of some
areas. The subsoil below 18 to 20 inches is a black, sticky, calcareous
silty clay loam to clay, which passes at 34 to 40 inches into a duU-
grajdsh clay loam to clay. Occasional pockets of sand are encoun-
tered in the lower depths of the 3-foot section.

Since the separation of Muck and Peat is based upon the state of
decomposition of the vegetable matter, the distinction is necessarily
arbitrary in many cases. Where the vegetable matter is so finely

40 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919.

(li\i(I('(l thai till' iilirous iiiiitciinl and plant tissues can not l)e identi-
lii'd, the classilication Muck has been given. Black Peat is the name
h)cally a])i)lied to Muck.

"Muck is (K'xeloped in small areas scattered over the entire county.
It occupies low, formerly ponded areas and undrained sloughs where
water now stan<ls fi'om 4 to 15 inches deep the entire year. Where
these inundated heds occur, uuirsh symbols are used to indicate the
condition. Many of the Muck areas have been drained and are under
cultivation. The poorly drained areas all support a more or less
dense growth of water-loving grasses, cane, and rushes.

Muck gives fair crops of corn on well-drained fields that have been
in cultivation several seasons. Timothy and clover yield well. Sugar
beets are gi'own successfully on a number of small areas. These soils
are especially adapted to onions, celery, and truck crops.

Where crops are injured and retarded by concentrations of alkali
salts, manure should be applied after adequate drainage has been es-
tablished.

SUMMARY.

W^right County is situated just north of the center of the State
of Iowa and has an area of 575 S(|uare miles, or 368.000 acres.

The land surface is that of a broad, level drift plain, broken in
the eastern half by scattered hills. The county varies in elevation
from 1,008 to 1,240 feet above sea level.

A belt of high morainic hills, beginning in the north-central part
of the county and extending in a general southeasterly direction,
forms a drainage divide between the Iowa River on the east and
the Boone River on the west side of the countJ^ These two rivers,
with their few tributary streams, constitute the drainage system.
Over most of the county the drainage is sluggish to poor.

The first settlement in the county was made in 1854 near the
present town site of Woolstock. The 1920 census gives the popula-
tion of the county as 20,348. A little more than 64 per cent of the
population is classed as rural.

Good railroad facilities are supplied over the county, giving direct
communication with Chicago, St. Paul, Omaha, and Sioux City
markets.

Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Dows, and Goldfield are the
principal trading centers. Local shipping points are conveniently
distributed over the county.

The mean temperature for smnmer is 70.5° F., and for winter,
17.5° F. The mean annual rainfall is 32.36 inches. This is nor-
mally distributed so that all staple crops of the region thrive. The
growing season extends over an average period of 152 days.

SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 41

The principal industry in Wright County is agriculture. It con-
sists mainly of grain farming combined with the raising and fat-
tening of live stock. The chief crops are corn, oats, and hay. Hog
raising is the most important live-stock industry. Many carloads
of cattle and a few of sheep are shipped in annually and fattened
for market.

There were 1,927 farms in the county January 1, 1920, having an
average size of 178.8 acres. In recent years tenant farms have
rapidly increased in number. At present only 45.5 per cent of the
farms are operated by owners.

Substantial homes and auxiliary farm buildings are found in the
county. Rural mail and telephone service is good. Excellent rural
schools are accessible to all communities.

Farm lands bring a cash rent of $7 to $15 an acre and sell for
$160 to $400 an acre, depending on improvements and location.

The soils of Wright County are classed in nine series and are
represented by 16 types, including Peat and Muck. They are pre-
vailingly dark brown to black in color, and loams in texture. The
Carrington, Webster, and Clarion series occupy the upland division.

The Carrington loam is one of the more extensive types in the
county. It is particularly adapted to corn and oats. Timothy,
clover, wheat, and barley are also grown. The Carrington sandy
loam and fine sandy loam occur in the niorainic region in areas of Car-
rington loam. These soils are rather loose and open, lighter colored,
contain less organic matter, and are generally less productive than the
heavier types.

The Webster soils, which are first in extent, are black in color,
productive and durable. They occupy the broad, level prairies and
all require artificial drainage for maximum production. When well
drained they are the strongest and most productive soils in the
county. The silty clay loam lies in the flat, poorly drained depres-
sions, many of which were formerly sloughs or ponded areas. The
Webster loam is gently undulating to gently rolling and has better
natural drainage. These soils are characteristically calcareous.

The Clarion loam is a heavy, dark-brown to black, mellow soil,
very productive, and better drained than the Webster soils. The
soil profile is similar to the Carrington loam to a depth of 30 to
34 inches, where a yellowish-gray calcareous layer is encountered.

The alluvial second-bottom, or terrace, types are included in the
O'Neill, Buckner, Waukesha, Fargo, and Bremer series.

The O'Neill loam, Buckner loam, and Waukesha loam have a
rather loose, open structure, and crops thereon are subject to injury
in prolonged droughts. All staple crops are grown and in normal
seasons give good yields, though slightly lower, than yields on the
upland types.

42 I'lKIJ) OI'KKATIOXS OK IIIK lU'HKAlT OK SOILS, 1!>1!>.

rii(.' I'Mi'^^d Ittiiiii and l'':ir;in silt V ilay Niaiii occiipv Hat or tlejirossi'd
tnracr posit idiis ami aiv naturally poorly draint'd. When liandlid
piopcily tliry arc sti"oii<j; and pi-oducti\e.

rill- lirciut'i' silt loam is inoxtcnsive, lies Hat. jind has a heavy suh-
soil. In piodiirtiM'iiess it is (•()nipai"al)le to thi' \\'('l>ster loam.

'I'he ^^'al»asll loam is the only lirst-hottom tvi)e in this county. It
is subject to overflow annually and is practically all used for [)asture.

The Muck and Peat soils occur in formerly ponded areas, sloughs,
and old lake beds. They consist of ))artially decomi)o.sed vepetal)le
matter. When drained and |)roperly handled for a few years they
can be made to produce excellent crops,

o

[I't'BLlC RESOlArriON — No. 9.]

JOINT RESOLUTION AiHomliiig- public resolution inimbored eight, Fifti'-sixth Congress,
second session, approved February twenty-tliird, nineteen hundred and one, " providing
for th» printing annually of the report on field oiwrations of the Division of Soils,
Depaj-tment of Agriculture."

Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
Anieriea in Conyrcss assembled, That public resolution numbered eight, F"ifty-
sixth Congress, second session, approved Feltruary twenty-tliird, nineteen
hundred and one, be amended by striking out all after the resolving clause and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:

That there shall be printed ten thousand five hundred copies of the report on
field operations of the Division of Soils, Department of Agriculture, of which
one thousand five hundred copies shall be for the use of the Senate, three
thousand copies for the use of the House of Representatives, and six thcmsand
copies for the use of the Department of Agriculture : Provided, Tliat in addi-
tion to the number of copies above provided for there shall be printed, as soon
as the manuscript can be prepared, with tlie necessary maps and illustrations
to accompany it, a i"eport on each area surveyed, in the form of advance sheets,
liound in paper covers, of which five hundred copies shall be for the use of each
Senator from the State, two thousand copies for the use of each Representative
for the congressional district or districts in which the survey is made, and one
(housand copies for the use of the Dei)artment of Agriculture.

Approved, March 14, 1004.

LOu July 1, 1901, the Division of Soils was reorganized as the Bureau of Soils.]