Issued September 28, 1912. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS-MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, F. B. MUMFORD, DIRECTOR. SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. A. T. SWEET, OF THE U. S. Department of Agriculture, and J. E. DUNN AND E. S. VANATTA, of the University of Missouri. J. E. LAPHAM, Inspector in Charge of Northern Division. [Advance Sheets— Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1911.] WASHINOTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTINO OFFICE. 1012. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL United States Department of Aoricui.tire, Bureau of Soils, WashiNgfoiK D. C, March 2U 1912. Sir : In the extension of soil-survey AAork in the State of Missouri, work was undertaken in Platte County, the selection of this area being made after conference with State officials, with -whom the bureau is cooperating. I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript report and map covering this work and to request their publication as advance sheets of Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils for 1911, as authorized by law. Very respectfully, Mil'ixjx "Whitney, Chief of Bureau. Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. 2 URL ^ CONTENTS Page. Soil Survey op Platte County, Missouri. "By A. T. Sweet, of the United States Department op Agriculture, and J. E. Dunn and E. S. Vanatta, OP the University ok Missouri 5 Description of the area 5 Climate 8 Agriculture 9 Soils 13 Marshall silt loam 18 Rnox silt loam 20 Shelby loam 20 Crawford stony clay loam 21 Boone fine sandy loam 22 Wabash very fine sandy loam 23 Wabash silt loam 24 Wabash clay 25 Sarpy very fine sandy lf)am 26 Sarpy silty clay loam 27 Sarpy clay 27 Sarpy loam 27 Sarpy very fine sand 27 Summary 28 ILLllSTRyrriONS KKiURE. Pago. Fio. 1. Sketch ma)) showing' the areas surveyed in Missouri 5 map. Soil map, riatte County slu-ct, Missouri. 8 SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURL By A. T. SWEET, of the United States Department of Agriculture, and J. E. DUNN and E. S. VANATTA, of the University of Missouri. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. Platte County lies in the northwestern part of Missouri. Its ex- treme length from north to south and width from east to west are about equal, approximately 20 miles. It is bounded on the north by Buchanan County, on the east by Clinton and Clay Counties, and on the south and west by the Missouri River, along which it has a frontage of about 50 miles. The included area is 427 square miles, or 273,280 acres. Topographically the county ma}' be divided into two distinct types of country, the flat, almost level flood plains of the INIissouri and Kic:. 1. — Ski'Icli map sIiowIiik (he areas survi'.vi'd in Missouri. Platte Kiscrs and some smaller si reams, miuI Ihe lh()r Ki\er vary in width fi-om one-half to over three-fourths of a mile. The upland is a thoroughly dissected plain, which once sloped very •rently from northwest to southeast. Numerous streams have cut hack into this plain, so that the only remnants of the upland are die narrow ridges which separate the small drainage systems. The high- est of these riilges, located about 1 mile east of Tatan. has an extreme elevation of slightly more than 1,100 feet, and the divides in many parts of the count}' have an elevation of more than 1,000 feet above sea level. The most extensive of these ridges occurs in the southern part of the county and extends northeast from Kampton, passing out of the county a short distance north of Barry. It forms the water- shed between Smith Fork and Platte River on the north and the small streams which flow into the Missouri River on the south. Another high divide separates the drainage of Bee Creek from that of the Platte River, while a third separates the drainage of Bee Creek from that of the small streams which flow into the Missouri River on the west. The topography of the higher parts pf these divides is gently undulating, but becomes steeper and more broken as the main streams are approached. Bordering the valley of the Platte, Smith Fork, Bee Creek, and some of their larger tributaries, the sloj^es are steep and sharp and rock outcrops and low ledges are of frequent occurrence. The unevenness of the surface also increases as the bluff line bor- dering the Missouri River flood plain is approached. This bluff line frequently ri>es from an elevation of 760 to over 1,000 feet in a dis- tance of from one-fourth to one-half mile. A low rock ledge occui-s in most places along this bluff line, but the surface for a distance of several miles back from the bluff is so thoroughly dissected that it presents a succession of steep hills and intervening liollows. The topography of Platte County, however, is not of that sharp type found where erosion forms have n,ot been modified by subsequent deposition, but has instead a rounded, billowy appearance, such as uneven surfaces have when covered by a heavy snowfall. This is due to the covering of many irregularities, steep slopes, and deej^ cuts by a heavy deposit of wind-blown material known as loess. This is deepest and has had the most influence on the topography along the river bluff's, but the topography of all parts of the county have been influenced to a greater or less extent by it. The drainage of the central part of Platte County is into the Platte River, which enters the county near its northeastern corner and, after following a meandering course to the southwest, enters the Missouri Valley near Farley. It formerly maintained a different SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 7 course through the Missouri flood plain, entering the Missouri River near Parkville. Later its course changed and it entered the river near "Waldron, and recently it has again changed and now enters the Missouri If miles south of Farley. The largest tributary of the Platte River is Smith Fork, which, with its tributaries, drains a con- siderable area in the east-central part of the county, aaid enters the Platte about 2^ miles northwest of Hoover. Bee Creek drains a consideraljle area in the north-central part of the county, while Mission Creek, Bear Creek, Pedee Creek, Brush Creek, and several smaller streams drain areas along the southwest side directly into the Missouri River. The channel of th<» ^lissouri River is constantly changing its position and has frequently made cut-offs since its channel was established as the State boundary line, so that this line is now in several places some distance from the river channel, thus leaving portions of Missouri on the west side of the river and por- tions of Kansas on the east side. In this connection it is proper to state that Sigers Island, lying northwest of Waldron, has been inadvertently omitted from this survey. The territory' included in Platte County, prior to that time part of an Indian reservation, was opened for settlement in February, 1837. The county was organized in December, 1837, and was within a few j'^ears, next to St. Louis County, the most populous in the State. The settlers of Platte County came immediately from Clay and other near-by counties, but originally principally from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. There has been little change in the char- acter of the population in the county since it was first settled, until within the last few years, the descendants of the early settlers forui- ing a very large proportion of the inhabitants. Since the ivvi\:il of the tobacco industry, however, a good many tobacco groweis have been induced to settle in the county. These have come principally from KentuckJ^ The first year after the county was settled it had a jiopulntiou of l>0 to the square mile. In 1!)10, 73 years later, it had a population oi" only 14,429, or approximately 35 to the square mile. Platte County has no Inrge towns, the largest being AVeston, Platte City, Parkville, Dearborn, Edgerton, and Camden l*oint, each having between 500 and 1,000 population. Other smaller towns are Waldron, Farley, Tatan, Linkville, Tracy, Ridgeley, and New Mar- ket. Platte City is the county seat ; Parkville is the site of Park College, an important educational institution of the State. At Wes- ton is located a brewery and a distillery. It is also the center of an important tobacco industry. Although there are no towns of the first rank within the county, gcKxl markets sind trading points are quite accessible, Kansas City being just outside of the county to the south, St. Josejjh 15 miles from its northern bonndnrv. and Lenven- "worth and Atchison, Kans.. across the Missouri Kiver on the west. 8 KTHl.D OPERATIOXS OF THE HUREAU OF SOILS, 1011. I'hiito County is fairly well --iii)i)lio(l with tran.-portatioii facilities. The Chioigo, Biirrm(1 liy the State IJoard of AKrlcnlturc, ^ivo valnabic siiuKi'stlons on j,'n)wln« this crop. 2 Spc FarnxTs' liiillctin No. oo!', T'. S. I)i'i)l. of AtrrlfiiK iirc. nnd Circular No. -10 and Bulletin No. 72, l.ssucd by the Kxpcrlincnt tjt^ition, Columbia, Mo. 12 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BTREAIT OF SOILS, IftU. No\t to tlio pioilik't ion of I'oiii aiul ^vlu•:lt the <^ro\viii^ of tobacco is the most important industry of the coimty. Tobacco has been •ri'own in a small way for homo use ever since the county has been settleil. but no tobacco had been grown for the market for several years until about five years ago. The growing of White Burley tobacco was then introduced, and the results obtained have been so satisfactory that the business has increased until at present Platte is surpassed by only one other county in the State in the production of tobacco. The following table shows the remarkable increase in this crop: rrodiictioii of tobtivco in I'lattc Vountij for the yeans I'JOl to J'JIO, and average price. Years. Produc- tion. Trice per pound. 1907 Pounds. 260.000 472, 000 2,200.000 3,060,000 Cents. 11 to 12 16 13 8 1908 1909 1910 The leading soils for tobacco are the Knox silt loam and the brown phase of the Marshall silt loam. Of these the Knox silt loam, or yellowish-brown soil of the hills, is the better, giving not onl}' a larger yield, but also a better quality of leaf. The Crawford stony clay loam is also used to a limited extent, but unless it has a surface covering of loess it is not a very satisfactory type for tobacco culture. In favorable seasons the yield of tobacco is approximately 1,800 pounds i^er acre. The quality is good. "When sold on the Louisville market in competition with Kentucky-grown tobacco it commands equally high prices. Much of the tobacco in Platte County is grown by tobacco raisers who have been brought in from Kentucky for the purpose. Some of it, however, is grown by the owners of the land. Where grown by tenants the landlord furnishes land, barns, and farming outfit and receives one-half the tobacco. The growing of tobacco in Platte County has led to the clearing of many small timbered areas wdiich had been left for many years for wood and pasture, and on account of the steepness of the slopes. Xewly cleared land is considered the best for tobacco, but it has been found that on old land a crop of cowpeas plowed under will do much to restore the soil to a productive condition. Only a few fields of cowpeas were seen in the county during the progress of the survey. This may be made a very valuable crop, both on account of the feed which it will yield and also on account of its SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 13 beneficial effect on the soil. Cowpeas may follow a crop of wheat or oats as soon as the gi-ain is cut and may be used for hay or pasture or may be planted in the corn at the last cultivation. Much of the soil of Platte County is well suited for the growing of garden vegetables, melons, small fruits, and berries, yet the grow- ing of such crops for market is receiving very little attention. Much of the best gardening land is accessible to the Missouri and Platte Rivers, and it would seem that important interests of this kind might be developed, motor boats being used for carrying the products to market. Dairying is another industiy for which this country is admirably suited and which is receiving almost no attention. With its wide range of forage crops, clover, and alfalfa and large yields of corn for ensilage combined with accessible markets few regions are so favorably situated for a profitable dairy business. Stock raising of all kinds should receive much more attention than at present. Sj^stematic crop rotations should be adoi:)ted, in which the use of land for pasturage, the growing of legume crops and the use of manures should have a regular place. "^^Hien such a system of farming is adopted and is supplemented by dairying, by tobacco growing, and by market gardening and fruit raising, the agricultural output of the county will be very greatly increased. Artificial drainage by means of open ditches oi' tile might be re- resorted to with good results in many sections of (he bottom lands throughout the area. Soil moisture could be conserved and loss in times of drought re- duced to a minimum by a system of deep plowing, harrowing, and disking the soil tlioroughly and forming a dust mulch. "Widi an annual rainfall of 35 inches crops need never suffer from tlrouglit when proper measures are adopted to preserve soil moisture. P^rosion constitutes the most serious source of daiuage to the soil in the county. Deep plowing and the incorporation of organic matter, thereby increasing the moisture-absorbing cai)aci(y of the soil and preventing ra|)id run-off of stonn watci's will do nnicli to check this. Contour farming along slopes and the i)lanting of sod crops to hold the soil logcthei' and |)rc\t'n( Wiishiiig will ;dso do much to prevent sei'ious damage. Kedtop is an exccllenl grass for this purjjose, as it foi-ms a strong sod. SOTI,S. The sf)ils of Platte County may be separated according to origin into three broad divisions — the residual soils, the glacial and h»('s- sial soils, and the silluvial soils. In cxtcnl of aica covered and in 14 FTKI.n OPKRATIOX!^ OF THE lU'HF.Ar OF S(ni.S, llUl. tlu'ir value I'di' apiculture the <::lacial and l(K>ssial soils are of first importance, the alluvial soils are next, and the residual soils of smallest extent and also of least value. I "nderlyintj: the surface coverino^ of soil througliout this part of Missouri are alternating beds of limestone and shale and in places thin beds of sandstone. These beds belong to the Upper Coal Measures and dip slightly to the north and west, so that the older or lower beds come near the surface in the southern part of the county, Avhilc the higher or more recently foi-med beds are near the surface in the northern part. Owing to the surface covering of soil these rock beds can be seen only along the steep bluffs bordering the stream valleys and where small streams have cut their vcay back into them. The slight dip or tilt of the beds can be readily seen along the railroad between Beverly Station and Weston or on the Kansas side of the river between Fort Leavenworth and the tenninal bridge. AMierever rock outcrops occur the limestone, and, in parts of the county, sandstone, beds are the most prominent, ledges varying in thickness from a few to as much as 20 feet or more being quite com- mon. Above and below these ledges and in many places where no ledges occur fragments of limestone almost cover the surface of the gi'ound. This prominence of the limestone at the surface is not due to its greater thickness, but to its greater hardness, which enables it to withstand weathering more effectively than the other rocks. The shale beds are much softer and soon break down, forming a surface covering of soil. The shale beds are rarely seen, except when they have been cut into in grading roads, along recently cut stream chan- nels, or where well protected by an overlying bed of limestone. Along the upper course of Jordan Branch in the north-central part of the county shale outcrops over 20 feet in thickness were seen and along the road half a mile east of Platte City beds of more than twice that thickness are exposed. Judging from the position of the outcropping limestone beds, however, the shale beds are in places from 40 to 80 feet or more in thickness. In parts of the county where the glacial and loessial covering is thin and hard limestone beds come near the surface they have checked the widening of the stream valleys, which in these places consist of a narrow flood plain bordered by a long, gentle slope which terminates at the upper edge in a steep rock-covered slope and in some places in a rock ledge. In parts of the county, too^ this weathering of alternating hard and soft beds has given a mesalike appearance to the topography. This is rather marked southeast of Platte City, near New Market, and in many other places in the county. The limestones vary in color from light yellowish brown to light gray, are very fossiliferous, and the greater proportion of them are thin bedded and shalv. Several harder, more crvstalline and more SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 15 massive beds, however, occur. These vary in thickness from 8 to 24 inches, and the rock is used extensively for building purposes, for which it is well suited. Owing to its greater toughness it is not so well suited, however, for the manufacture of crushed rock as the lower-lying Bethany Falls limestone, which outcrops in the counties south of the Missouri River. The shale beds vary in color from yellowish gray, drab, and various shades of reddish brown to black. In hardness they vary from rock that can easily be crumbled be- tween the fingers to rock approximating slate. The lighter colored beds usually contain considerable quantities of very fine mica par- ticles and not infrequently thin strata of very fine textured sandy shale. The soils derived from the limestone and shale beds have been so thoroughly mingled during the processes of soil formation that it is impossible to separate them on the basis of origin, and they have been classified as Crawford soils derived from alternating beds of lime- stone and shale. At "Waldron and in several places along the blull' between that point and Parkville large blocks of soft, yellowish-brown or buff colored, fine-grained sandstone are seen. The sandstone bod fiom which these fragments come also outcrops along Sand Branch. Brush Creek, Rush Creek, and other streams in the southern part of the county. If it extends farther north it is so low and so thorougldy covered by the more recent fonnations that it plays but a small i)art in the formation of the soils. This bed varies in thickness from 5 or G feet to more than twice that thickness, the thickest outcrop being noted about H miles northeast of Tiffany Springs, where it attains a thickness of about 15 feet. In some places the upper por- tion of this bed or one lying immediately above it is dark reddish brown in color and thin-bedded and shaly in character. Owing to its massive structure this sandstone, although very soft, does not weallici' rapidly. In parts of the area where it comes near the surface on long slopes it has furnished the principal soil-forming malci-iul, giv- ing a smooth yellowish fine sandy loam of low fertility wliidi lias been called the Boone fine sandy loam. Scattered over the surface and cml)edded in the soils in many places in Platte County there are large irregulai- masses of i-ock unlike any found in place in the bluffs or rocky ledges. A laigc part of these are reddish granite and quartzile, but many oilier i-ocks of foreign origin are represented. There are also in places, usually around the heads of the smaller streams, beds of walerworn gi-avd and i:)ebbles. These also contain nmch foreign malerial. usually quartz, quartzite, and granite, but also limestone, dieii. ami odiei- material prol)al)ly of local origin. '^Fliese bods of gia\cl filled sdil almost invariably occur inunediately above a bed of limestone or 16 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1911. sandstono. The origin of this foreiod plain of the Missouri River and have been formed from material brought down and deposited I)\' that stream. I^ike the A\'abash soils, they vary in texture from very ligiit fine sand to heavy clay. Their prin- cipal distinguishing chai-acteristic is the sandy oi* light silty character of the subsoil underlying the heavier surface soils. These soils l)e- long to the Sarpy series. Near the blnfl's bordering the Missoui-i River flood plain, and especially where small streams enter it. con- siderable areas are covered by soils which are a mixture of the AVabash and Sarpy series. The AVabash chai-acterist ics usually |)ii'- dominato at the surface near the stream channel, while the Sarpy characteristics are founU in I Ik- subsoil. I'\Mrther from the streams the two materials ai-e more thoroughlv mixed. IS FTKI.n OPERATIONS Ol' TTrE RUKKAU OF SOILS, 1911. Tlio t'ollowiiiii- labU* ijivi's the iiaiuo iuitl I'xtont of each soil iu:>j)i)e(l ill aroa : Areas of different Kails. Soils. MarsluUI silt lotiin Knox silt losim Crawford stony chiy loam Wabiish silt loiun Heavy phase ColUivial phase Sarpy clay Sarpy very fine sandy loam.. Sarpy silty clay loam 86.016 65,216 36,544 2,816 2,048 768 16,000 12,992 9,856 Per cent. ;n.5 23.9 13.4 5.8 4.7 3.6 Soils. Shelby loani Wabash very fine sandy loam. Sarpy very fine sand Boone fi ne sandy loam Sarpy loam Wabash clay Total 9,664 8,384 4,544 3,456 1,280 1,152 273,280 Per cent. 3.5 3.1 1.7 1.3 .5 .4 MARSH.\I.L SILT LOAM. The ^larshall silt loam is the most important soil type in Platte County, not only on account of its extent, but also of its high agri- cultural value. There are two distinct phases of the Marshall silt loam — the black or prairie phase and the brown or timbered phase. The prairie phase consists of a dark-gray, black, or bluish-black silt loam, very fine and light, and containing considerable amounts of very fine sand near the surface. Beneath the surface 3 or 4 inches it becomes slightly heavier in texture and at IG to 20 inches faint brown mottlings are occasionally seen. At a depth of 16 to 20 inches a few small iron concretions frequently occur and in a few instances lime concretions were encountered, usually below the zone of the iron concretions. Below 20 inches the color becomes somewhat lighter and at a depth of 24 to 28 inches mottlings of yellowish brown and gray appear and the type becomes heavier in texture, continuing to :v depth of 40 inches. Although the upper portion of this subsoil has some of the characteristics of the " hardpan " found under the flat prairies of central Missouri, it differs from it in being lighter in tex- ture and less impervious to water. The greater portion of this soil Avas originally prairie. The brown phase of the Marshall silt loam was originally timbered and is known locally as " black walnut land." Typically it consists of a yellowish-brown, brown, or dark-brown silt loam, light, friable, and easy to cultivate and of even texture throughout the soil section, except that it becomes very slightly heavier with increased depth. At 16 to 18 inches the soil becomes distinctly lighter in color, chang- ing to a yellowish brown, usually without mottlings, continuing to a depth of 40 inches or more with little change in color or texture, except that the lower 10 or 12 inclies of the section frequently grades somewhat lighter in texture. When exposed along cuts and ditch SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 19 banks the lower portions of the soil section, immediately above the subsoil, cracks and checks in a characteristic way, somewhat like the " gmnbo '• land, except that the fragments are usually smaller. The Marshall silt loam occupies a broad broken strip extending almost entirely across the eastern side of the county, several smaller areas along the northern side, the crest of the divide between Platte River and Bee Creek, and also the divides between Bee Creek and several smaller streams which flow to the west. Other small isolated patches are found throughout the county, except in the stream flood plains. The largest continuous area of the prairie phase of the Marshall silt loam is located in the south-central part of the county and forms the divide between the streams flowing north and west into Platte River and Smith Fork ajid those which flow south into the Missouri River. On this phase are located Hampton, Hoover, and Linkville, Another important area extends from Ridgeley to the northeast corner of the county. The characteristic timber growth on the brown phase of this type is black walnut, white oak, hackberry, white elm, honey locust, ash, and wild cherry. In places hard maple and pawpaw are found. Areas of this soil occur on the crests of the divides between drainage systems and on the long slopes which border many of the stream courses on one side. On the ridges the soil is usually suiTounded by the lighter colored Knox silt loam, but on the long slopes bordering the streams it often occurs below the residual soil, which is found on the steep upper portion of the slope, and above the alluvial soil along the stream. No definite line of demarcation can be drawn between the two phases of the Marshall silt loam as found in this area each grading into the other almost imperceptibly. In crop value there is little difference, the darker colored soil being perhaps somewhat better suited to corn, oats, and pasture grasses, while the ])i-own phase is better suited to wheat, clover, alfalfa, and vegetables, Tlie black phase also probably does not stand drought quite so well as the brown phase, but it occurs in larger, continuous areas, is less cut up by drainage ways, and more easily farmed. The average yield of com on the Marshall silt loam for a period of several years will prol)al)ly average over 10 l)ush('ls jx'r acre, and a much larger average yield can undoubteilly be obtained with better farming methods. Wheat yields from 20 to 25 bushels, while much larger yields have been reported. Oats are raised to some extent, and yields of 30 to -10 busliels obtained. Some tobacco has been grown on the 1)ro\vii ])hase of this type. l)iil IIk' yields have been less and the (|Uiility inl'ei-ioi- to that grown on llic Knox silt loam. 20 FIELD OPERATIONS OK TUK BUREAU OF SOILS, I'JlL KM»X SII.T LOAM. Tlie Kiu)\ silt loam consists of a li<;jht yellowish brown or bntf- ooloivU very tine sjuuly loam or light silt loam, friable, and velvety to the touch, and of almost uniform color and texture throughout the soil proper. In places at a depth of 10 to 18 inches this soil is somewhat heavier in texture than the surface soil or than the deep subsoil. The lightest soil occurs near the bluffs, where the loess deposit is very deep, becoming heavier as the deposit becomes thinner. Iron pipes and thin bands slightly cemented with iron oxide also occur at depths of .'^ to 5 feet. Near Waldron large lime concretions were noticed in the loess banks at depths of 20 feet. The principal body of the type extends in a broad, almost continu- ous belt nearly across the county from northwest to southeast. The southwestern boundary of this belt is sharply defined and bordered by the residual soils along the river blutt'. The northeastern edge is uneven and irregular in outline, with many projections and exten- sions along the stream courses. Numerous isolated areas bordering the stream courses are found throughout the county. Near the river blulfs the Knox soils cover the entire surface, ridges and valleys alike. Back from the bluffs the type occupies the slopes and lower ridges only. In places the Knox silt loam and the brown phase of the Marshall silt loam are very closely related, the latter occupying the almost level areas and the concave slopes, while the former occu- pies the more eroded areas and the convex slopes. From this it would seem that the principal difference between the.se two soils is one of drainage and percolation of ground water, tending in the case of the Marshall silt loam to h(/ld and collect organic matter while in the other ca.se to distribute it. The term " sugar-tree land " is applied locally to the Knox silt loam. Its timber growth consists principal!}' of hard or sugar maple, black walnut, white oak, elm, linden, ash, and others. Clumps of pawpaw bushes are of frequent occurrence wherever this soil is found. The type is well adapted to com, wheat, clover, alfalfa, and espe- cially to garden truck and fniit. It is the i:>rincipal tobacco soil of the county. The yields for corn, wheat, and oats are approximately the same as those of the Marshall silt loam. Tobacco averages about 1,800 pounds per acre, alfalfa three to four cuttings of from one-half to 1 ton per cutting. Although this is a very productive soil and suited to a wide range of crops, owing to its undulating topography, it is less desirable for general farming purposes than the more nearly level Marshall silt loam. SHELBY LO.\M. The Shelby loam, to an average depth of 8 to 12 inches, consists of a reddish-vellow sandv to siltv loam, usuallv containing waterworn SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COLTNTY, MISSOURI. 21 gravel and pebbles, and grading into a stitf red sandy cla}^ in which numerous small waterworn rock fragments are embedded. This subsoil continues to a depth of 3 feet or more, but frequently the rock material becomes too heavy below 20 inches for the penetration of the soil auger. In places the surface soil to a depth of 15 or 20 inches differs but little from the Marshall silt loam or the Knox silt loam, but has the heavier gravelly subsoil. In the vicinity of Edger- ton, in the northeastern part of the county, a considerable area of soil having a higher percentage of sand than is usually found in the Marshall silt loam has been included with this type, although in crop value it approaches more nearly the Marshall soils. The tyi')e is an unimportant one derived principally from glacial drift, but mixed to a considerable extent with both the loess soils, which were originalh^ deposited over it, and with soils derived frojn the limestone, shale, and sandstone on which it has been deposited. A thin bed of drift consisting of foreign bowlders, waterworn pebbles, gravel, sand of all grades, and red clay probably extends over the greater part of Platte County, In most places it is covered by deep beds of loess. Where it has been exposed by erosion around the heads of the small streams and along the steep slopes it is often so thin that the soils derived from it can not bo shown on the soil map and have been^included with the residual soils. In places, how- ever, these are of sufficient extent to be shown on the map and have been called the Shelb}^ loam, although the soil varies froui a light loam to a red gravelly clay. "Where exposed in fields or along the roadside the type is easily recognized by its yellowish-red oi- i-eddisli- brown color, by the numerous rock fragments embedded in the soil, and by its location immediately above rock outcrops. The timber growtli on the Slielby loam diffei's markedly fi'om that of the loess soils and consists largely of hickor}'^, black and red oak, with an occasional scrubby white oak or post oak. Owing to the great variations in this soil and to its small irregulai- areas, no very accurate estimate of crop yields can be given. .Vs a whole it is of rather low agricultural value, the average yield i'm- corn probal)]y being 25 bushels per acre and of wheat 12 or 15 l)ushels. CRAWKOUI) STONY CLAY l.OAM. The Crawford stony clay loam is variable in texture, ranging from a sandy loam through a silt loam to a silty clay. It usually, howevei-, consists of a yellowish-brown silty clay varying in dei)(h fiom :? (o 10 inches and grading into a darker yellowish brown, tenacious clay, which extends to a depth of ?> feet or more and is sonietimes under- lain at a lesser depth by beds of limestone or yellowish drab shale. Over a considerable portion of the area (bin fiagmenls of fossil- iferous limestone are scattered over the surface and through the soil 22 FIKI.n OTKltATlONS OK TlIK nrHKAT OK SOILS, V.)\\. |)rt)lilo. This soil has boon riiici|):il ohjort ioiiabli' iVatiircs to its (levelopniont aro that it usually Di-iMirs in lonir. narrow strips, often crossed and rocrossed hy the stream along: which it (X'curs. and that in many places it is subject to overflow. The largest continuous body of this tyjie occurs alon*2^ Bee Creek, where a strip averai^injr alwut one-fourth of a mile in width extends from the i)oint where this stream enters the county near Dearborn almost to Beverly Station. Numerous smaller interrupted areas occur in the valley of the Platte Eiver, while still smaller bodies of it. lie alonpf the valleys of practically all the smaller streams in the county. ^Nlany of those small areas on account of their size have been included with the adjacent types. AVhere the Wabash very fine sandy loam occurs in the valley of a large stream it usually occupies a position near the stream course. In many places it occupies a lower and more frequently overflowed flood plain, being separated from the heavier soils by a steep terrace 6 to 12 feet in height. In places along Bee Creek the lower level is occupied by a very light fine sandy loam, while the upper level is occupied by a fine sandy loam somewhat heavier in texture. In the smaller stream courses the fine sandy loam usually occupies the entire flood plain. This soil gives good yields of corn, wheat, clover, and alfalfa. It is especially suited to vegetables, melons, and small fruits! WABASH SILT LOAM. The AVabash silt loam where typically developed consists of a gray, dark-gray or gra3'ish-brown to almost black silt loam, light and friable at the surface and containing an appreciable amoimt of fine sand. It becomes slightlj'^ heavier with depth, grading at IT) inches into a heavy dark-colored silt loam, which continues to a depth of 3 feet or more, the lower part of the section being occa- sionally slightly mottled with spots of reddish brown. In some parts of the area, especially in the valley of Bee Creek, the lower portion of the subsoil becomes lighter instead of heavier, grading in places into a fine sandy loam. Wahash silt loam, heavy phase. — A heavy phase of the Wabash silt loam occurs in several places in the Platte River Valley, in which the surface soil is nearly typical in texture, although usualh'^ darker colored and in places almost black in color. It is underlain at a depth of 12 to 18 inches by a heavy gray or mottled gray and brown tenacious silty clay. This phase is shown on the soil map by cross hatching. Wahash silt loam, coUuvial phase. — A few small areas of the col- luvial phase of the Wabash silt loam have been mapped. These occur along the upper courses of a few small streams which head Avell out on the level uplands. The soil has come from the adjacent SOIL SURVEY OF PLATTE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 25 areas through gradual movement down the slopes, but has not been carried in suspension and redeposited as true alluvial soils have been. It consists of dark-gray or black silt loam which becomes heavier with increased depth. Below 16 or 18 inches it is often a very heav}'- silt loam or clay loam. It is rich in organic matter and productive, but frequently needs artificial drainage. The "Wabash silt loam found in this area is derived from the same sources as the very fine sandy loam and consists almost entirely of washed loessial material. In the case of tlie siU loam, however, a larger proportion of silt and clay and less fine sand have been deposited. The largest areas of this soil occur in the valleys of the Platte River and Smith Fork, but smaller areas are found in the valleys of several of the less important streams. In most places the type does not extend entirely across the valley, being separated from the stream channel by narrow strips of fine sandy loam, some of which are shown on the map. Along the edges of several of the smaller stream valleys benches or " high bottoms " occur. These lie at a considerable elevation above the present flood plain of the streams along which they occur and are separated from them by a distinct terrace slope. Where cut into by gullies these benches are seen to be made up almost entirely of loessial material, and in most places the soil closely resembles the Knox silt loam, although its position and level surface clearly indicate its alluvial origin. These benches have been mapped as Wabash silt loam. The Wabash silt loam is well suited to corn and wheat, and where the subsoil is not too heavy and is well drained, cloA'cr and alfalfa can be grown. Much of the type is subject to overflow, and some areas can be greatly benefited by artificial drainage. Corn will average about 50 bushels per acre and wheat 25 bushels. Much larger yields are often obtained. WABASH CLAY. The Wabash' clay consists of dark-gra}^ black or bluish-black, heavy, tenacious clay, ditl'ering but little in the subsoil in (cxdirc, the color showing somewhat lighter an