Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 217, Decatur, Adams County, 13 September 1923 — Page 3

I Soil Survey of I I Adams County I Genesee Silt Loam. The Genesec silt loam consists of a brown friable loam to silt loam, with with average depth of 10 to 15 inches, underlain by a subsoil of brown silt loam to silty loam, mottled with gray. The type, as developed along the upper reaches of the small streams and branches, merges into the Brook 9ton silty clay loam; along the lower courses It passes by imperceptible stages into the Genesee silty clay loam. In many respects the Genesee sill locm as developed in Adams County closely resembles Meadow. It lacks uniformity, ranging in texture from light loam to heavy silt loam; the surface is usually uneven, being cut by numerous thannels; and on account of frequent overflows the land is used almost entirely for pasture. The type is inextensively developed and from an agricultural standpoint is of little importance. Its largest development occurs along Bine Creek which has been streightened and deepened. thus reclaiming a considerable area sufficiently to make it suitable for pasture. Other less extensive areas are found along Yellow Creek, Boram and Seventeen Mile Runs, and smaller streams. The native forest consists of elm oak, ash, maple, sycamore, and willow Genesee Silty Clay Loam. The Genesee silty clay loam, to an average depth of 8 to 12 inches, is a brown, heavy silt loam to silty clayloam. or. in places, silty clay. Below this the material grades into heavier silty clay loam or silty clay of somewhat lighter color. There is nd shar. line between soil and subsoil. Adjacent to the stream channels the surface soil is not uncommonly a silt loam. Where the type occupies depressions the surface soil is darker than typical, and the subsoil is often mottled with shades of browu and gray. This variation of the type is similar in color characteristics to the Clyde clay loam. In general the type is very uniform in color. Along th< Wabash river, notably at Linngrovt and east of Geneva, the underlying limestone in places is within a few feet of the surface. In the Wabash valley the type is generally heavier than along the St. Marys river. This is especially true of areas in the vicin ity of Geneva and eastward, where the quiet back-waters from the river have deposited the finer grades ot silt and clay. In such places the soil is a very heavy silty clay loam or silty clay. The Genesee silty clay loam does not contain a very high percentagt of humus, although there is sufficient to make it friable and retentive of moisture. The soil is not difficult to keep in good tilth when properly has a tendency to clod and bake it handled. It is sticky when wet am. plowed when in this condition. This soil is the principal bottom land type of the county. It occurs along the St. Marys and Wabash rivers, where it occupies a strip ol overflowed land averaging less than one-half mile in width. The areas subject to back-water inundation and unon which water remains for some little time are wider. There is a gentle slope toward the stream channel, and the type as a whole is well drained except for overflows. Corn, oats, clover, and wheat are the chief crops. In favorable seasons the yields of these crops, except waeat, are about the same as on the Brookston silty clay loam. Wheat does well, the yield being practically the same as upon the Miami silty clay loam. I There are many favorable localities I for alfalfa, the best being farthest front the stream channel, where the flood water does not stand for any length of time, and where the water table is at least 3 feet below the surface. The Genesee silty clay loam is sei- ' ont sold separately, but farms upon *hich it occurs are held at $125 to ♦2OO an acre. Muck and Peat. In the areas mapped 'as Muck and eat the material consists of a mass ° dark-brown, to black more or less decomposed vegetable mold in differen stages of decomposition, with 1 c is mixed a small proportion of Itneral soil particles. Where the egetable matter is thoroughly decaymt the Quantlt y of mineral matter Mmu W ‘.‘ h “ 18 rela “vely large true exists. The Peat areas consist "L . 8e ’ r ° W> flbrous material, much in \t“ v anCe(l iD dec °mposition than of o< C Un<l containin g less material 01 mineral origin. aliPe’?' W < h “ e M “ ck and Peat a r« from D °s g ‘ n ' they are distinguished omnoT ° ther by the Btate of de--0? Wht bK Os the v^ta lde tissues c t they are largely composed.

Muck is dark-brown to black in color; Pent is brown to reddish brown and lighter and more chaffy in texture. Owing to the small extent of the type and the numerous transition stages between Peut and true Muck it was found impracticable to attempt a separation. 4 wit The soil is of variable depth, usually grading from a feW inches at the margins of the treas to a depth of several feet at their center. The substratum as shown in exposures along the deepdredged ditches, consl.'ts of a stiff drn>b to bluish-black ( lay containing a high percentage- of lime. The largest area of Muck and Peat in Adams County lies northeast of Berne. It forms a narrow strip nearly 1 miles in length and represents a former lake bed. This area is locally known as prarie, owing to its level surface and the almost total absence of trees. With the exception of the eastern extremity practically all of this area is under cultivation. This was made possible through large open ditches leading north into Blue Creek. To the east of this area occurs a small unreclaimed body of Muck and Peat, which together with the area southwest of Magley constitutes the total acreage of the type in the county. This latter area which is a continuation of the type in the type from Weils county, is fairly well developed Muck. Corn, the main crop, when not in lured by heavy rains or early fall frosts, yields from 60 to 100 bushels per acre. On those areas where the soil is usually poor, both in yield and juality. Oats and other small grains are not successfully produced, because the growth of straw is forced at the expense of the grain, and the crop lodges badly. Potatoes, cabbage. onions, and celery are grown successfully on the large area northeast of Berne, and abundant yields are obtained. Peppermint, a crop well suited to Muck and Peat, is grown extensively in some other counties in the state. None, however, is produced in Adams county. It is generally recognized that commercial fertilizers containing a large percentage of potash salts are especially beneficial upon Muck and Peat soils. If. also has frequently been found that they can be improved by the application and thorough incorporation of coarse barnyard manure. Summary. Adams county is situated in the northeastern part of Indiana and adjoins the eastern boundary of the state. It has an area of 337 square miles or 215,680 acres. The topography varies from lever to rolling, with the highest elevations in the southern part. Practically all jf the area is tillable, with the exception of steep slopes in the more roll ing country and the narrow strips of overflowed land along the smaller streams. The St. Marys and Wabash rivers are the main drainage outlets of the county. They follow a general course from southeast to northwest. Tile drains and open ditches have been installed extensively and supplement the natural drainage in the more poorly drained sections of the county. The first settlers came to this section about 1920 and the county was organized in 1836. The population of the county in IS2O, according to the census, is 20,503, of which threefourths is classed as rural. Decatur, the largest town and county seat, has a population of 4,762. Berne has 1,537 and Geneva 879. Transportation and shipping facilities are good .except in the northeast and southeast corners of the cohnty. Three steam roads and one electric interurban line, together with a considerable mileage of improved public roads, provide adequate facilities for moving the farm products to market. The mean annual temperature at Bluffton, in Wells county, is 50.3 degrees F„ and the mean annual percipitation is 36.54 inches. Where careful tillage is employed to conserve the moisture in the soil crops are not likely to suffer from drought. The average date of the last killing frost in

OTTWjj Ojl free! Watch Paper! This Big !O-Quart Aluminum Dishpan Given Away?j

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1923.

the spring, is May 5 and of the first in the fall, October 6, gteng a normal growing season of 154 days. The agriculture of Adams county Is in a highly developed state. Corn, outs, wheat, and hay are the princi pal crops growus. Sugar beets, soy beans, potatoes, and alfalfa are the special crops. Surplus oats, corn, and hay find a local market. Hog raising is the principal animal industry, although considerable attention is given to cuttie and horses. Dairy products find a ready market within the county, and some are shipped from the north-

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ern part of the county to Fort Wayne. According to the 1920 census there are 2,328 farms In the county. Thin i Is a slight decrease as compared with , the number returned in 1910. In this decade the average size of farms in- ’ creased from 88.7 to 88.9 acres. Ninety- • six per cent of the area of the county I is included In farms, and of the farm t land 87.8 per cent, is improved. Improved farm lands rent for $5 i to $8 an acre, and the lands best suit- < ed to sugar beets, for $8 to sl2 an . acre. The price of farm land ranges ■ from $75 to S2OO an acre.

In addition to Muck and Peat, soils! ■ of five series are mapped. The Miami.; • Crosby and Brookston series are each , represented by a silty clay loam type, . and the Clyde series by the clay loam ..type, These are upland soils and are well suited to the general farm crops. r The Miami silty clay loam, lo< ally i known as clay land, Is a light-colored, fairly well drained soil especially j adapted to grass and wheat. . The Croeby silty clay loam, also a i light-colored type, has a flat to gently s undulating topography. It is not as well drained as the Miami type. Corn,

! oats, and hay are the main crops. The Brookston silly clay loam is extensively developed, it is u dark drainage it Is especially well suited to colored soil. With thorough artificial corn, oats, and hay, and it is considered the best soil for sugar beets. The Clyde (lay loam is of smasl extent. It is a black soil with poor natural drainage, but nearly all artificially drained and farmed very successfully. The Genesee series is represented by a silty clay loam and silt loam. |

These Rolls are brown in color and occur In the first, or overflow bottoms. The Genesee silly day loam is the most important. It is best suited to corn, although good yields of outs, wheat, and hay are obtained. The silt loam occupies narrow areas along low agricultural value, being subject the smaller streams. This type is of to frequent overflows, and is used almost exclusively for pasture. The area of Muck and Peat is small. Corn and vegetables are grown on the I better drained areas.