The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-07-08

islands; a trap soil, of limited extent near
the foot of the igneous outbursts, and final
ly, alluyial bottoms, which are confined
almost exclusively to the valleys of the nu.
me-ous streams enptying into the lake.
:" The drift soil prevails through the HIGH
lands, elevated six hundred to one thousand
feet above the level of the lake: also over
the high grounds west of Chengwomioon
Bay, at the height of three hundred to six
hundred feet. and the higher points Of the
neighboring Apostle Islands
"Ihe trap soil, which support a growth
of sugar maple, oak, and other hard woods
are next in richness to the alluvial lands.
They are found chiefly on high RIDGES and
slopes, which, at the east and west ends of
the district, are only a short distance from
the lake shore; but on the waters of Bad
River and the Brule, they receede three
fourths Of the distance back towards the
sources Of their various branches.
"The red clay and mari lands, occupyino
the high plains skirting Lake Superior, are
characterized particularly by the prepond.
erance Of oxide of iron, from which ri,av
derive their color, and which amounts to
four and half per cent, or nearly one-half
of the weight Of the saline matter; it is al
ways a retentive soil, from the abundance
Of argillaceous earth which enters into its
composition; hence, these red clay and
mari lands are often wet, particularly when
defended from the direct rays of the spn bv
the dense growth Of cedar, balsam, spruce
birch, and hemlock that usually covers
them. Still, these lands are not so wet but
that by clearing and judicious system of
husbandry, they would soon become sulfc
iently dry 70, most kinds of crops and gard
en- vegetables. They may be compared in
quality to the red lands of MARYLAND and
Virginia which border the Potomac River
in Montgomery and London counties. which
by deep subsoil ploughing and proper
system Of drainage, produce wheat crops
that can hardly be eXcelled. The larger
portion Of the Lake Superior basin is occu-
pied by these red clay and mari lands. The
general elevation Of the red clay plains
above Lake Superior is about two hundred
feet. They are, for the most part, level
with gentle slope towards the lake. cut
however, into deep, abrupt gulHes in the
immediate vicinity Of the streams.
"Ihe bulk of the land as yet cultivated in
this country, is what is known as the red
clay soil; and 1t has proved productive in
the highest degree. Vegetables of the lar
gest size and finest quality are grown in it:
and for the production Of wheat rye, barley
and oats, it cannot be surpassed; forty
bushels Of wheat to the acre is the average
on thesh lanas, and in many instances they
have yielded fifty bushels"
In the immediate vicinity Of Superior the
soil is of this red clay variety, and to un.
derstand its productive qualities one should
see the crops ON the ground at harvest
time, as the writer did last season. But
we have for twenty miles around Superior
three kinds Of land, not differing materially
in productivencss, fproperly titled. These
are the red clay, which is so much impreg
mated with lime that it almost comes un-
der the denomination of mari. The tama-
rack swamp, which is a mixture Of red clay
with a large portion Of decayed vegetable
matter, which with the action Of water has
changed It's color to black, and will be our
best meadow land. And what is usually
termed the hard wood land, generally con
tanning mixture OF sand or gravel. and
bearing the oak, ash, elm, sugar maple.
yellow birch, sc. This soil. producing as
it does luXuriant grasses, will make stock
growing a profitable source Of income to
the farmer.