Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-23
ONLY CIRCUS COMING
SEVENTY p
low A COUNT Y
Particular Information Impaired
Ivy the United States Geologii
sal Survey.
Thirteen Distine. Types of Soils
Classified.

Thirteen Distinct Types of Soils
Classified.
The great particularly with which
the federal government is lending its
Influences and its agencies to local in
vestigauons and issues is we'll illus
trated by information which it now
imparts regarding the county Of Iowa.
This county is IN extent about - by 80
miles, In the middle portion its surface
is a rolling plain, With an elevation of
LtO0 or 1900 feet The land becomes
sighting billy toward the south and is
deeply cut toward the north. The eli
mate is hcalthtul rainfall sufficient
The growing season between killing
frost, averages about l43 days, The
farms numbered 28l3 in 1905 and
averaged lSS acres in size, about 20 per
cent of them being operated by owners.
Farming methods are good, Farm
hands are paid SO to $50 Il month with
board,
Iowa county is distinctly a dairy
county, There are about 30 cheese
factories and tive or six creameries, In
1904 the output of cheddar cheese was
nearly 100000 pounds. In 1905 there
was %, 4S9 milch cows an increase Of
Is per cent in 10 years, The number of
hogs has increased along with that of
dairy CATTLE IN 1908 some ~. sos were
sold or ON hand In the same year
there were s5.oS5 sheep and lambs,
The northern half of the county Is suit
able TO sheep raising, which might be
considerably extended,
The soils of the county are classified
rs thirteen types, each of which is fully
described in the report, A large map
of the country shows by different colors
! the exact location of the different soils.
| The descriptions include recommenda-
tions for proper treatment of the soils.
/ About 81 per cent of the soil is classified
ny Knox silt loan, while the Dodgeville
silt loan, occupies 1l,8 per cent of the
area. the Marshall silt loan o % per cent,
and the Wabash silt loan 7.5 per cent.
These are the leading soils, the others
being of slight extent, except the rough
stony land which amounts to ITO per
i cent,
Dairying, we are advised, is the best
use to which to put the Knox silt loan.
on which careful rotations are requisite.
Where steep slopes occur on this soil
they had better be left in permanent
pasture, Some of this land may be-
had for $25 or $50 an acre. but in the
more gently rolling areas II sells for
$50 to 800
upland prairie sections of the western
part of the country, none being found
lower than 1000 feet II is well adapt
ed to corn. which yields 90 to 10
bushels. Oats barley, and hay also do
we'll. Land of this type is generally
considered valuable for general farm
ing. Prices range from 800 to 800 an
acre.
The Dodgeville silt loan occupies
the upland prairies of the eastern part
of the county. Much of this land Is
devoted to pasture. Dairying has in
creased the prosperity of the farmers
on this soil. Some farmers have sue.
ceeded with alfalfa, and this crop I'M
doubtedly will be more wildly used in
the future. Land of this type sells at
$50 to 800 acre.
The Wabash silt IL alluvial soil, ly
ing along the upland streams. Ii Is
especially valuable for moving land
and pasture. The Wabash loan Is
very productive and the Lintonia silt
loan also is u desirable soil.
The characteristics Of the several
soils are fully described in the report,
and the map will enable farmer or
prospective farmer in this county to
locate his farm and ascertain the
type to which its soil belongs.
Surely the government earnestly is
seeking to give helpful enlightment TO
those who would return 10 the soil or
those who desire TO remain there. Pre-
sumably it is pressing its useful in
quiries gradually into every county OF
the nation to the great practical ad-
vantage Of untold thousands Of persons.
Shot at IA Chiravari.