Massbach, Nasset, and Shelbyville soils average more than 35 percent clay in the lower part of the B horizon and have the lower part of the B horizon formed in residuum from limestone or shale. Mellot and Waubeek soils have horizons with more than 10 percent sand within a depth of 40 inches. Newhouse soils contain strata and more sand above a depth of 40 inches and formed in thinner loess. Slope gradients range from 0 to 12 percent. These soils formed in 40 to 60 inches of loess or other silty material and in loamy stratified outwash or in sandy loam till.
Summers are hot and winters are cold.
The mean annual temperature ranges from 45 to 54 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 45 inches. These are the competing Harvard , Plano , St. Charles , and Virgil soils and the poorly drained Drummer soils. Harvard, Plano, and St. Charles soils are on nearby similar landscape. Virgil soils are generally less sloping and are somewhat poorly drained. Surface runoff is slow on the gentle slopes and rapid on the steeper slopes.