S 599 .U6 M59 Copy 1 Wisconsin geological and Natural History Survey. E. A. BIRGE, Director. W. O. HOTCHKISS, State Geologist A. R. WHITSON, In Charge, Division of Soils SOIL SURVEY IN COOPERATION WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE H. L. RUSSELL, Dkan BULLETIN NO. XXIV. SOIL SERIES NO. 1 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY ^•.5f^r^ MARINETTE COUNTY BY SAMUEL WEIDMAN Wisconsin Geological and Natukal History Survey AND PERCY O. WOOD United States Department of Agriculture SURVEY CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATBS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS, MILTON WHITNEY, CHIEF. ' ^u«a««»«*ft««A MADISON, WIS. <^£AubF_F«8H0^ PUBLISHED BY THE STATE 191 1 ^ ^. Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. E. A. BIRGE, Director. W. O. HOTCHKISS, State Geologist. . A R. WHITSON, In Charge, Division of Soils SOIL SURVEY IN COOPERATION WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE H. L. RT'SSELL. Dean BULLETIN NO. X.XIV. SOIL SERIES NO. 1 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY MARINETTE COUNTY BY SAMUEL )YEII)MAN Wisconsin Geological and Natural Histoby Survey AND PERCY O. WOOD United States Department of Agriculture SURVEY COXDUCTEI) IN COOPERATION AVITfl THE UNITED,JiX4XE9 DEPARTMEN T OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU Q^'v?t3lti^rA&7>v. MILTON WHITNEY. CHIEF. y^^^\ ^ ^'" *^ * V «£0£IVEO • ^. MADISON, WIS. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE 19 1 1 ORGANIZATION OF SURVEY. KOAUU or CO.llimsSIONKRS FRANCIS E. McGOVERN, Govc7-nor of the State. CHARLES R. VAN HISE, President. President of the University of Wisconsin. CHARLES P. GARY, Vice President. State Superintendent of Public Instruction. JABE ALFORD, President of the Commissioners of Fisheries. SAMUEL F. PLANTZ, Secretary. Pi-esident of the Wisconsiii Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. STAFF OV Till': SI KVI-:\ ADMINISTRATION: Edward A. Birge, Director and Superintendent. In immediate charge of Natural History Division. AViLLiAiSr O. HoTciiKiss, State Geologist. In immediate charge of Geology. F. G. Sanford. Clerk. GEOLOGY DIVISION: T. C. CiiAMnERLix, Consulting Geologist, Pleistocene Geology. "William O. Hotciikiss. In charge. Geology. Samuex Weidman. In charge, Areal Geology. Frederik T. TinvAiTES. Assistant, Geology. R. H. Whitheck. Assistant, Physical Geography. E. B. Hall, Assistant, Geology. E. F. Bea^. Assistant, Geology. F. E. Williams. Assistant, Geology. WATER POWER DIVISION: Leonard S. Smith. In charge. NATURAL HISTORY DIVISION: Edward A. Birge. In charge. CiiANCEY JuDAY. Lake Survey. George Wagner. Report on Fish. L. G. Lytle. Assistant, Lake Survey. E. H. Toole. Assistant, Lake Survey. DIVISION OF SOILS: Andrew R. Wiiitson.- In charge. F. L. Musback. Field Assistant and Analyst. Guy Conrey. Analyst. E. J. Graul. Analyst and Field Assistant. A. H. Meyer. Field Assistant and Analyst. L. R. ScHOENMANN. Field Assistant and Analyst. T. J. Dt-NNE\VALD. Field Assistant and Analyst. ^e"^^ 1)^ x^eS TABLE OF CONTEXTS Page Recox.xoissaxce Soil Survey of Marinette County, Wisconsin, By S. Weidman, of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, and Percy O. Wood, of the United States Department of Agriculture 1-44 Description of the area 1 Climate 8 Agriculture 12 Soils 21 Miami fine sandy loam 24 Coloma fine sand 29 Coloma fine sandy loam 30 Plainfield sand 32 Dunkirk fine sand 34 Superior fine sandy loam 36 Colojna loam 37 Muck 39 Peat 40 Rock outcrop 41 Summary 41 ILLUSTRATIONS PLATES. Page Plate i. Typical dairy farm on Miami fine sandy loam, sec. 10, T. 31, R. 22 16 II. A characteristic home of new settlers on the Coloma sandy loam, T. 31, R. 20 E. A small orchard and clover field in the foreground 16 III. Fig. 1. — Typical view of Plainfield sand, undeveloped, Jack-pine plains, sec. 4, T. 36, R. 2D. Fig. 2.— View • of farm developed on the Plainfield sand, sec. 5, T. 34, R. 20 32 IV. Fig. 1. — View of Coloma loam, showing typical dense hardwood forest near Goodman. Fig. 2. — View of newly cleared field on Coloma loam at Goodman 32 FIGURE. Fig. I. — Sketch map, showing location of the Marinette County aj'ea, Wisconsin MAP. Soil map, ^larinette County sheet, Wisconsin. PREFACE The AVisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey is car- i-^dng on a soil survey of Wisconsin in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin. The primary object of this sur- vey is to make an inventory of the soils of the state; to secure Imowledge of the kinds of soil, their physical and chemical qualities, and the area and distribution of each kind. In the reports of the soil survey, therefore, the soils are described, classified, and mapped, as is done in the present report of the survey of Marinette County. In the northern and more sparsely settled portions of the state the survey is of a rapid and general character, and is termed a "reconnoissance survey." In those portions of the state where substantially all of the land is in farms, the survey is carried on with much greater detail. In the course of the reports on the soils of different areas general statements are made regarding the use and treatment of types of soil. These statements are carefully considered and are correct in the light of present knowledge. But it is plain tliat they cannot he based on careful study and experiment on tlie particular soils with which the report deals. Such an in- vestigation must be carried on by the College of Agriculture after the survey has been completed and a general knowledge of the 'soils has been obtained. It will take much time and many experiments to determine in detail the proper methods of maintaining and increasing the fertility of soils, and the crops to which they are best adapted. Meanwhile, the statements made in the reports give general advice which will be of service to the farmer. It must be remembered, however, that the main purpose of the report is to describe and map the soils of the county, or other area with which the report deals. Those who receive the reports should preserve them; to be used for ref- erence in connection with bulletins which the College of Agri- culture may issue later, and which will be specifically directed to tlie practical use of the soils. RHCONNOISSANCE SOIL SU RVHY OF MARINETTE COUXTY. WISIOXSIX. By S. Weidman, Of the Wisc'oasiu Geological and >;atur:il Historj Survey, AND Percy 0. Wood Of the Luited States Department of Agriculture. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. Marinette County is situated in the northeastern part of the State of Wisconsin, lying adjacent to the southern end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and separated from it by the Menominee River. It is bounded on the east and northeast by the Menominee River, on the north by Florence County, on the west hy Forest and Oconto Counties, on the south by Oconto County, and on the southeast has about 15 miles of sliore line on Green Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. The county lies approximately between parallels 45° and 45° 45' north latitude, and meridians 87° 35' and 88° 25' west long- itude. Its greatest length is 58 miles from north to south and its width varies from 24 to 32 miles. It is the third largest county in the State, containing 1,413 square miles, or 904,320 acres. |l ■ ■ rJ. ;•, l^i iijii) The elevation of Marinette County above sea level ranges from 580 feet on the shore of Green Bay to probably over J ,500 or 1,600 feet in the northwestern part of the county. The IMenominee River at the head of Big Quinnesee Falls, in llie northern part of the county, has an altitude of 1,020 feet and descends to 580 feet at the harbor in Marinette. The Peshtigo River at the head( of Taylors Rapids, in the west central part, has an elevation of 1.227 feet, and falls to 580 lUJCOXXOWSANCE fiOIL SURYEY OF MARINETTE CO. feet at Pesliligo Ilai-bor. Tlie altitude of the railroad station at Marinette is 600 feet, Peshtigo 602, Coleman 706, Pound 714, Beaver 662, Ellis Junction 675. Wausaukee 736, Amberg 889 and Pembine 968. I'lc. ]. Sketch map showinc: locntinii of ]\rarinctto rovinty roconnoissance sur- vey, aiifl other soil snrxpys of A\isfoiisiii. Tlie topograph}^ of the county varies from level plains to gently undulating and rolling areas. The areas of level plains The surveys of Marinette Co., of tlae North Western area, and of the North Central area, including Portage Co., may be obtained on ap- plication to the Wisconsin Geol. & Xat. Hist. Survey, Madison, Wis. The surveys of Marinette Co., Portage Co., Racine Co., and the Janes- ville, Viroqua, and Superior areas may be obtained on application to the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, or from the local Congressman or U. S. Senator. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. - 3 and rolling lands alternate, their main direction being north- east and southwest. The streams, on the other hand, flow in a southeast direction, at right angles to the trend of the prevailing land features. In conformity with the general trend of the more prominent topographic divisions the small swamps and ridges have their longest direction northeast and southwest. The most prominent hills in the county are Silver Mountain and Thunder Mountain, both of which reach 400 to 500 feet above the surrounding country. Both these elevations are in the western part of the county. Silver Mountain being in T. 34, R. 17, and Thunder Mountain in T. 32, R. 18. The drainage of the entire country is toward the southeast. The tributaries of the Menominee River, which forms the northern and eastern boundary of the county, drain about three-fifths of the county, and the Peshtigo River and its tributaries drain about two-fifths. The principal tributaries of the Menominee are the Pike and the Peme Bon Won. The principal tribvitaries of the Peshtigo are the various streams (li-aining into Lake Nocque Bay and the Little Peshtigo River. There are many small lakes in the county, the most prominent of which are' Lake Nocque Bay, having an area of 4 or 5 square miles, and Coleman Lake, Avith an area of less than 1 square mile. The stream valleys are relatively broad and shallow; in only a few places are they deep and narroAv. Rapids and waterfalls are common. In the western part of the county the Peshtigo River, from Taylor Falls to the Lower Sandstone rapids, falls about 550 feet in about 43 miles. This part of the river is characterized by numerous rapids from 10 to 40 feet in height. Between the rapids the descent is relatively slight. The Menominee and Pike Rivers also contain num- erous rapids. These numerous falls and rapids, which are almost entirely found in the area of crystalline rocks, make possible the development of a large amount of electrical power. A. $1,000,000 plant has recently been constructed at High Falls on the Peshtigo River for the purpose of supplying power to the city of Green Bay and the intervening country. One of 4 RECOXXOT^'i^AXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. the largest \vc)()(l-j)iilp mills in the country is located at Niagara, in the northern part of the county on the Menominee River, where a fall in the river is utilized for power. The water- power possil)ilities of northern AVisconsin are becoming more and more important and ^larinette County will have no small share in this development. Marinette County lies in the great timbered area of north- ern Wisconsin, and agriculture is secondary to lumbering and the manufacturing of timber products. The original growth of Avhite pine has been quite generally removed, as it was long considered the only timber worth ciitting. Beginning about 15 years ago, Norway pine, hemlock, and tlie various kinds of hardwoods, of Avliich there are many in the county, such as basswood, poplar, birch, and jack pine, have been utilized. There still remain a fe^v tracts of excellent pine OAvned by lumber companies in the northeast part of the area, and on the Coloma loam there is much fine hardwood, but aside from these areas the valuable timber has very largely been cut. Some poplar and hemlock is used by the paper mills at Marinette, Menominee, and Niagara. As the process of removing the magnificent forest covering has gone on, few settlers have entered upon agricidture, with the result that the county contains scattered settlements over the large areas of cut-over lands, awaiting the arrival of other setthn-s to turn the unoccupied areas into prosperous farming sections. In addition to these cut-over areas, which at present are developing a growth of scrubby oak, poplar, and birch, there exist many cedar and tamarack swamps which some day will also be made to contribute to the agricultural resources of the State. The earliest white settler in the region now comprised in Marinette County was an agent of the American Fur Co., Louis Chappienx, wlio located on the present site of Marinette in 1796. lie retained the monopoly of the fur trade until 1822, on tlie arrival of William Farnsworth and Charles TJ. Brush. Marinette County was organized from the eastern and soull;- oastern portions of Ocontx) County in March, 1879. The DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 5 coiiiity wlien first formed extended up the JMenominee River to include township 38, and thus contained what is now the eastern half of Florence County. Florence County was de- tached from Marinette and Forest Counties in 1884. The lumber business attracted the first permanent settlers to the county. The first sawmill in Marinette was erected in 1832. The second mill, located at Twin Island, was built in 1841. About 1854 to 1856 several mills were erected in Mar- inette and IMenekaunee. a suburb of jNIarinette. The original plat of Marinette was laid out and recorded in April, 1858. The first school was organized in 1857 and the first school- house erected in 1858. John G. Kittson, a clerk of the fur company in 1826, was the first man to break ground for a farm in the county. His farm and trading post were locateil at Wausaukee Bend on the Menominee River. Agriculture in the county was unimportant until within the eighties. The great tracts of pine land along the Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers, owned by the lumber companies of Marinette, Menominee, and Peshtigo, developed a highly pro- ductive business, which gave employment to all the early settlers of the region. The earliest farming in the county was liegun about 1870 in the settlements of the Upper, Middle and Lower Sugar Bushes, in the southern part of the county, in what is now the town of Grover. The Peshtigo fire of October 1, 1871, in which about 1,000 people lost their lives, was a decided blow to the development of the county. The fire followed a long period of especially dry weather and is a memorable day in the history of Mar- inette County. At that time about 300 families lived in the three Sugar Bush settlements. Only eight houses remained after the fire. The village of Peshtigo was the center of great devastation. The great tracts of thickly forested lands burned over in various parts of the county gave added impetus to clearing the land for farming in the next few years. In 1860 the population of the towns of IMarinette and Pesh- tigo before the county was set off from Oconto County was 1,044 and in 1875 it was 5,057. Since its organization the county, according to the State census, has reported the follow- G RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. ing population : In 1885, 13,494 ; in 1895, 19,417 ; -and in 1905, 33,730. The population in 1910, United States census, was 33,812. About one-half the population since 1885 has been in the city of Marinette! Of the entire population since 1885 Mbout two-thirds has boon urban and about one-third rural. Nearly one-half of the early settlers Avere native-born Amer- icans. The most important foreign-born element Avas from Canada, of English and French extraction, in about equal proportion. Most of the French Canadians settled in the vil- lage of Peshtigo, and on farms about the village of Coleman. The important sources of immigration from Europe before 1885 were Germany, SAveden and NorAvay, Great Britain, and Ire- land. Later the Polish became an important element. Bohe- mia, Austria, France, and Holland are also represented. In 1905 the munber and nationality of the important foreign- born elem,ents Avere as f oIIoavs : Canadians, 2,288 ; Germans, 2,257; SAvedes, 1,667; NorAvegians, 737; Polos, 757; Danes, 315. Before the advent of public roads communication in the un- dcA^eloped country Avas very difficult. The Menominee and Peshtigo RiA'ers were the natural higliAvays for the fur traders and the lumbermen. The supply roads of the lumber compan- ies leading out from Marinette, Peshtigo, and Oconto Avere an important aid to early communication. For years after the rail- roads Avere built into the county the floating of logs doAA'u the rivers to IMarinette and Peshtigo Avas the principal method of bringing the timber to the saAvmills, and this is still an important means of transportation. From the time of earliest settlement in the county outside communication has been carried on by A'cssels on Green Ba\* and the Great Lakes. The first railroad reached Marinette from Green Bay in 1871. The next year this road, the Chi- cago & NortliAvestern RailAvay, Avas built from Menominee to Escanaba. Mich. The Peshtigo Lumber Co. at an early date built a railroad from Peshtigo to Peshtigo Harbor, Avhere it con- nects Avith a line of barges on the lakes. This railroad later developed into the Wisconsin & Michigan RailAvay, extending through the northern part of tbe county. In 1881 the Mihvau- DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 7 kee Northern Railroad, now the Chicago, JMilwaukee & St. Paul, was built tlirough Coleman, Wausaukee, etc., to eonuK't with Ontonagon,- Mich. It practically bisects the county in a north and south direction, and has the greatest mileage of my of the roads in the area. In addition to these lines, the ]\[inneapolis. St. Paul & Sault Ste. ^larie Railroad traverses the northern part of the county from east to west. The city of Marinette, the county seat of Marinette County, in ad- dition to having three railroads, is so situated as to participate in the Great Lakes traffic, although the principal wharves are in iMenomiuee, ^lich., which is about the same size as Marinette, and is situated on the opposite bank of the Menominee River. ^Marinette, population 14,610, is the principal town in the area, and is a thriving and prosperous little city, which owes, its origin and growth to the lumber industry, still the most im- portant business. Peshtigo, a town of about 2,500, is also a lum- ber town, and Wausaukee, the next in size, with about 1,200 population, has a large sawmill as its most important feature. Aside from these local markets, together with Menominee, Mich., the iron and copper country of upper .Michigan furnishes a most excellent market for all kinds of farm products. Not only can Chicago prices be obtained in the copper country markets, but freight charges' are paid in addition, so that the various vege- tables and small fruits, grow^n at present on a very limited scale, as well as potatoes, hay, field peas, and the like, are readily dis- }K)sed of. A county agricultural school, established in 1905, is located at Marinette. The school is maintained jointly by the State and county and is doing excellent work in agricultural education. The general science of agriculture is taught aud practical demon- strations in farm work in its various phases are given. A sul)station of the State experiment station was established in 1909 at Crivitz (Ellis Junction railroad station). The station is devoted to experimental work on crops best adapted to the sand soils and the general management of sandy soils. The results of the investigations M'ill be announced as soon as com- pleted. REC0NN01S8ANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. CLIMATE. Norllirni Wiseonsiu is famous I'or its ideal aiiluniii weather. The suiuiiiers, while warm during the day, almost uniformly have eool nights. The winters are long and usually dry and eold, snow often heing on the ground from December to April. The following tables, compiled from the records of the Weather Bureau Station at Florence, Crandon, and ]\Ienominee, show the normal monthly and annual temperature and precipitation. Florence is about 15 miles north of the north central part of ^Marinette County, and Crandon is 38 miles west of the north- western part of ]\Iarinette County. The observations for Me- nominee, Mich., are taken only a half mile from the city of oMarinette, and are tlius applicable to southeastern ^lariuette County. The climate of IMai'inette Count>-, like that of most of "Wis- consin, is eliaracterized by considerable range in temj^erature. The ameliorating intluence of Green Bay and Lake ^Michigan on the southeast border of the county is important only from 5 to 10 miles from the shore line. Sometimes a temperature as low as — 35° F. is reached in winter, while the mercury some- times passes the 100° F. mai'k in summer, giving a range of 135°. The coldest weather usually ocelli's during the latter part of January and the first of February, and the warmest M-eather in July and August. The normal temperature for the winter months ranges from 14.5° F.. at Florence and Crandon to 18.6= F.. at ^Menominee. The normal for the spring is approximately the same for the three stations, ranging from 38° to 40.7° F. The normal tem- perature for the summer ranges from 63.6 F. at Florence to 64.9° F. at Crandon and 65.3° F. at I\renominee. The normal for the fall is 43.5° at Florence and 43.3° at Crandon. while at ^Menominee it is much higher, being 48.3". CLIMATE. J\ '>')» il antf mean mn.iimum and /ninhiiuin temperature at Florence, Cran- don. and Menominee. riorence. Mean a I lire. • 893-191)7. Cran- dou. Menominee. Mean of niavima. 1893-1907. Mean Mean Of temper- I aiean ^*"'°- I ^'eir/ TaU^e" 1893-1907. iJ.^^5: ^y^, ling 1907. j Mean of Mean of maxima ' minima, 3 years, 3 .vears, 190(5-1908. 1906-1908. December. .., 18.3 25 10 16.7 23.2 31.8 16.6 .Tannary i:i.3 23 5 11 1 18 1 28 8 13 '' 11.9 23 3 15.7 14.6 28.6 10 5 Winter 14.5 1 14.5 18.6 March 24.0 ~ 35" 14 26.3 28.2 36.9 19.0 April 39.0 53 29 43.1 39.7 48.9 .30.1 May 51.1 66 40 5,r 50.4 57.9 39.6 Spring 38.0 40.7 39.4 61 S 48 64 7 61 7 73 52.5 58.3 July 6"). 6 80 53 66.8 68.0 77.7 -Vug-ust 63.3 76 51 63.1 66.8 76.6 56.7 f^ummer 63.6 64.9 65.3 September 56.5 67 44 56.8 59.6 71.8 53.2 October '44.3 55 35 45.3 49.5 57.1 39. J November 29.6 37 21 27.8 35.8 42.9 28.4 -Vutumn 43.5 43.3 48.3 Annual 39.9 40.9 43.0 K) Jx'PJCOyXOh^^AXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. Niirinnl prn-iiiifttlioii (Hiil pre railing direction of winds at Fhrenrc, (Jrandon and Menominee. Normal precipitation. Direction of prevailing wind, 1908 I'"loi-cnco. Crandoii. 1.12 1.40 1.08 Menom- inee. 1 Florence, j Crandon. Menom- inee. 1.5t l.Ui 1.10 0.52 .70 1.05 w. .«;w. XW. X. XW. X. SW sw. NW. 3.80 3.66 2.33 March 2.00 2.14 3.89 1.48 1.48 2.38 1.8i 1.73 3.39 NW. ! W. XW • SW. N. May NW. N. NE. Spriiitr 8.33 5.34 6.96 ' 4.15 a. 80 3.35 2.62 .3.15 2.70 3.03 4.30 2.68 SW. s. NW. W. XW. ( W. i SW. July SW. NW. Summer 11.36 8.47 10.67 1 September October 3.61 2.80 2.05 3.70 2.05 2 26 3.27 1.03 1 IS NW. S. XW. s. XW. w. NW. SW. Fall 8.52 8.67 6.08 Annual 32.80 26.14 26.04 Ill summer the temperature of ]\[arinette County is practically tlie same as at Crandon, whieli is warmer than Florence, while in winter the temperature of ^Marinette County is the same as that of Florence, which is warmer than Crandon. The norrh half of Marinette County is 1 degree warmer for the year than either Crandon or Florence, and the southern half of Marinette (bounty is 1 degree warmer for the year than the northern half of the county. In other w^ords, Marinette County has a more equable temperature than either Florence Count.y to the north or Forest County to the west, due to the ameliorating intiuence of Green Bay and Lake JMichigan. The annual riiiiifjill of Marinette. County average'^ from 26 to 33 inches for the major ])art of the area. The amount of precip- itation is fairly constant for the winter, and a portion of the fall and spring months, but varies considerably in the summer months. Exceptionally diy periods occur once in 50 years, dry periods once in 25 years, and moderately dry periods once in CLIMATE. 11 .0 years. The last exceptionally dn- period occurred in the ^ears 1894 and 1896. The greatest rainfall occurs during the growing season, the able showing 19.06 inches for the period from April to Sep- ember, inclusive, at the Menominee station, against 6.98 inches 'or the period from October to March, inclusive. At Florence here are 21.3 inches rainfall in the spring and summer months, md 11.5 inches during the fall and winter. The data of last and first killing frosts, in the accompanying ;able indicate the period in which immunity from killing frost ^an be expected to range from 105 days in the northern part ^t lie county to 140 days in the southern part near Green Bay. As ihown by the table, frosts are likely to be late in the spring but ire not generally earlier in the autumn than for the southern 3art of the State. From the table it may be seen that one can not reasonably expect immunity from frost, for most parts of the county, before about the first part of June or after the mid- lie of September. Dated of killiny frostfi- at Florence, Crandon, and Menominee. Year IS95.. 1896.. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. Florence. La.^t in .spring-. Average. Ma.v 27 May 20 .Juno 8 May 16 May 25 June 9 June 9 .Tune 5 .Tune 12 May 30 May 26 June 13 May 28 June 15 June IS June 3 First ill fall. Sept. 27 Aug-. 19 Sept. 17 Sept. 10 Sept. 13 Sept. 8 Oct. 4 Sept. 12 Sept. 6 Auj?. 21 Sept. 13 Sept. 29 Sept. 22 Sept. 28 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Crandon. Menominee. Last in SI) ring-. First in fall. May 26 Apr. 10 June 8 Sept. 30 Sept. 2 Last in sisring-. May 2S June 15 May 18 June 1 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Sept. 7 Sept. 13 First in fall. May 12 May 21 May 3 May 16 May 9 M:iy 9 May 27 May 13 May 10 May 14 Oct. 1 Oct. 14 Sept. 24 Sept. 20 Oct. 12 Oct. 9 Sept. 30 Sept. 29 Sept. 27 Oct. 2 12 REC0NN0I88ANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. Tlie following table shows the coiiiparativ*! temperatures and )';i ill falls of Marinette County, southern Wisconsin, iioi-tliern Illinois, Towa, and the Lower Peninsula of ^Tiehigan: Mcitn, .sc'tsonal and (innual temperature and precijiifation. Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. Annual. Pre- cip- ita- tion. Tem- pera- ture. Pre- cip- ita- tion. [nches 6.84 9.18 9.89 9.50 7.65 Tem- pera- ture. Pre- clp- ita- tion. Tem- pera- ture. °F. 64.6 67.6 71.8 71.5 67.3 Pre- cip- ita- tion. Inches 7.75 8.56 7.64 6.88 7.54 Tem- pera- ture. Pre- ci Im- ita- tion. Tem- pera- ture. Mai-inctte County .... Southern Wisconsin.. Northern Illinois Iowa Inches 3.26 4.66 5.74 3.33 6.29 15.7 19.8 25.0 21.5 21.6 °F. 39.5 45.3 48.0 47.0 42.7 Inches 10.16 11.17 11.07 12.46 8.49 "F. 45.1 47.0 51.4 50.6 48.5 Inches 28.01 33.57 34.34 32.17 30.31 41.2 44.9 49.0 47. S Michigan. Lower Pen- AGRICULTURE. The ])i iiH-ipal industry of Marinette County, as already stated, is lumbering and related manufacturing enterprises, with agri- culture second in importance. About two-thirds of the j:)opula- tion is in the cities and villages" and one-third on the farms. This condition is not unusual, but is characteristic of most of the counties in the northern half of Wisconsin, as well as of many counties of the southern half. The proportion of farm population to village and city popu- lation has remained approximately constant since 1875, the total ])0])u]ation showing the rapid increase from 5,057 in 1875 to 33,812 in ]9]0 already cited. The state census of 3905, however, shows a slightly greater increase in the rural population as com- pared with that of the city, and this trend will very probably continue in the future, as the lumber industry has already passed its greatest development, while agriculture is still in its for- mative stage. The total area of the county is 904,320 acres, of which only al)out 6.7 per cent in 1905 was under cultivation. The acreage of improved land in the county has about doubled for each ten AGRICULTURE. 18 yciir pi'riod from 1885 to lOOf), the cash value of farm lands also doubling for each similar period. A fair estimate of the per- centage of land in the county that Avill finally be improved is probably 70 to 80 per cent of the total area, and hence it is evident that there is ample room for the future development of agriculture in the county. The statistics for 1910 are also in- cluded in the table. Imjirored and unimproved acres in farms and rash raliie of fur m land, inrltiding buildings. Year. Improved. -^ . Value I'll'": iiicludins- proved. imildings. 1885 Ac7es. 16,989 29, 302 60, 257 79. 474 Acren. 34,050 123,982 104.141 140,089 Dollars. 908,335 1895 2,177,875 1905 4,040.736 1910 U. S. Census 6,899,590 In describing the agriculture of the county, therefore, we are concerne'd with possibilities of future development as well as with the status the industry has alreadj^ attained. At present the agriculture of the county is practically contined to the south central and southeastern parts of the county, on the Coloma fine sandy loam, ]\Iiami line sandy loam, and Dunkirk tine sand. Wliile there are farms scattered over the other types, there are few localities which are at all thickly settled or which present the appearance of an agricultural community. The present valuation and selling price of the farm lands in IMarinette County is determined largely by the character of the soil. Ill the older counties of the State, where the agricultural lands are almost all occupied, this factor wholly determines the valuation and selling price, but in the new counties other ele- ments, such as location and density of settlement, may enter into the generally accepted basis of valuations. The range in prices of farms per acre varies widely, as is usually the case in other northern counties. Farms on the lighter sandy soils in the thinly settled central and northern parts of the county will average between $5 to $15 an acre for 14 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. uncleared hind and .$20 to $45 for cleared lands, including buildings. The prevailing prices of farms on the loain soils in the southeastern half of the county and also on the fine sandy soil between Peshtigo and IMarinette generall}' range between $15 and $25 an acre for unimproved land and from $50 to $90 an acre for improved land. The average prices, though stated between wide ranges, are subject to a gradual change tending toward higher prices for each year, as is usually the case where unimproved lands are opening up to agricultural settlement. In the southeastern part of the county about Coleman, Pesh- tigo, and IMarinette, w'here settlements w^ere first made, from 1870 to 1880 the staple crops were wheat, oats, corn, and pota- toes. Wheat was the principal money crop. Live stock was raised mainly for home consumption. Many of the earliest set- tlers depended upon game, mainly deer, for meat. An impor- tant market of the early settlers was the lumber camps. The acreage in wheat was very probably larger in 1875 than that of any other crop. In 1885 (see table) the acreage of wheat was second to that of oats. Since 1885, despite the much larger acreage of improved land, the acreage of wheat remains about stationary. On the other hand, the acreage of oats from 1885 to 1905 has increased about five times, of corn ten times, of barley four times, of rye ten times, of potatoes three times, and of hay five times. The apple crop is increasing in import- ance, the yield in 1885 being 1,630 bushels, while in 1905 14,5G3 bushels were reported. The crop statistics, compiled by the U. S. Census of 1910, arf also included and shows a notable increase in all crops excepting that of wheat. AGRICULTURE. 15 Acreoge and yield of more important cropx. Crop. Wheat Bailey Oats Rye Corn Buckwheat Potatoes Beans and peas, Root ciops Apples Sugar beets Hay 1885. Acres. Bush 1.491) 114 2,070 lol 112 12 754 369 246 27.790 2,088 66,647 2.549 6,552 324 75,012 6,674 39,284 1.630 '5,115 Acres. Bush 706 108 5,072 423 818 79 1,499 657 59 Acres. Bush '10.596 1,556 415 11,407 1.200 1,171 363 2,153 1,873 238 17,914 21,164 S»,210 299, 100 17,574 34.101 5,779 253,484 34,505 21,245 14,563 '4,354 '25,031 1910.- U. S. census. Acres. BusJi. 885 1 , 409 13,029 2.478 3,597 430 3.689 23,690 14.927 32,019 405,503 43. 989 94,913 5.672 439,958 31,988 'Tons. = Complete statistics of U. S. Census, 1910, for this and other tables not avail- able. The Miami fine sandy loa.m of the southeastern half of the county is especially favorable to apple culture. Such var- ieties as the Duchess, Hibernal, Patten Greening, Charlamoff, Longfield, and Wealthy are well adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions. The data relating to acreage and production of beans and peas mainly or entirely relate to field peas. Peas do exception- ally well on the new sandy loams and loam soils, the average yield in 1905 being over 18 bushels per acre. The bean is grown very little in Marinette County. It should be grown more extensively on the sanly soils as an important export crop. Sugar beets, arfe sold to the sugar factory at Menominee, Mich. \Vliile the usual yield per acre is not large, the sugar content of the beets is relatively high. The development of the live-stock and dairy industry has been as raj^id as the development of this industry in other north- ern Wisconsin counties. The value of cattle and calves sold from 1885 to 1905 increased about six times, of hogs about three times. The number of sheep sold has increased considerably during the past few years. 1 f; RECONNOIfiSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. yu n'>:'r an-l calue of lir;' H''}ok on. Ii ind and aold or cjnsiD/icd in Murinrtti Co II nil/. Horses and mules. Cattle and calves. Year. Number. Value. On hand. Sold or consumed. Number. Value. Number. Value. 1885 1895 :. 1905 lho 1,011 2,104 5,168 4.430 Dollars. 100,655 89,378 391,612 462.437 3,032 5,019 13,316 15.678 Dollars. 69,301 56,064 208,335 309.918 346 803 3,109 Dollar.'^. 8,822 8.969 49,850 Sheep. Hogs. Year. On hand. Sold or con- sumed. On hand. Sold or con- sumed. Num- ber. Value. Xum- i -. , ber. Value. Num- ber. Value. Num- ber. Value. 1885 1895 1905 1910 956 1,019 1.461 3,569 Dollars. 2.5.57 1.671 4,287 12,152 Dollars. .379 ' 1,169 257 532 570 1 1,674 1 1,458 1,890 ■ 4,806 7,917 Dollars. 8,714 9.090 23, 2i)0 50,804 829 J, 749 4,202 Dollars. 1. •5,276 17,281 37,540 I ' Dairying has increased in importanee with oth.ei' phases of agriculture. Complete statistics are not available for 1885, but in the decade betAveen 1895 and 1905 the number of milcii coAvs more than doubled, the output of butter from the farms increased about three times, and the production of cheese from the factories increased about four times. In 1895 there "was one creamery and two clieese factories in the county. In 1905 no creameries were report(Ml, but seven cheese factories were in ()|)ci';ition. AGRICULTURE. 17 Didri/ pnnlurts of Marinette County. Year. Milch cows. Milk. Butter. Number. Value. Pounds. Value. Pounds. Value. 189.') . . , Dollars. Dollars. 97,383 179,170 434,992 Dollarx. 22,981 1895 2.977 7,170 8,335 53,744 178,663 32,. 325 11)03 296,203 43,897 91,020 1910 "While the dairying industry has more than doubled during the last decade, its development has not been quite as rapid as that of grain and potato growing. One of the principal reasons for the relatively slow development of dairying is probably due to the low grade of the dairy stock. So far as known, there are no herds of pure-blooded stock of the gen- erally recognized dairy oi' general utility breeds in the county. Ther*e are, however, a few bulls of pure blood, mainly of the Guernsey breed, in the southern part of the county. "While many farmers keep a good number of cows, the yield of milk per cow is not large nor especially rich ; hence the best results from dairying are not obtainable. It is a well-known fact that it requires as much feed to keep a low-grade cow as it does to keep one of high grade. The yield of milk per cow ought to be increased at least twofold over the present yield to obtain the best results developed in other dairy sections of the State. And to obtain this result, better dairy stock should be developed as rapidlj'- as possible. A system of farming, with dairying "as a principal industry, Avill not only be profitable, but will develop conditions favor- ;:,l)lc to the maintenance of the fertility of the soil. The gen- eral use of manure and fertilizers should be practiced in any selieme of permanent agriculture. Where the forage crop is not fed on the farm and the manure returned to the soil, the continuous production of grain and hay crops brings about con- ditions in the soil that result in diminished yields. The selling of hay or other forage crops should not be practiced, unless pur- 18 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. chases -.wv nuidc fi-oiii siidi sales of concentrated feeds with wliich to balance the feeding ration. The growing of alfalfa on all soils on which it Avill sncceed should be extended, and also the groAving of more clover and other legumes, in order to increase the supply of organic matter in the soils and to add the nitrogen which such plants gather from the air. A chemical examination of much of the surface soil (0 to 8 inches) of the important types has been made, showing, as usual, a high content of potassium and a variable and, in some cases, quite a low content of phosphorus and nitrogen. Only a general statement in regard to the chemical composi- tion and its relation to the fertility of the soil and the appli- cation of particular fertilizers can be submitted at this time. Chemical analyses of samples representative of the soils of the area have been made by Prof. A. R. Whitson, of the College of Agriculture, at Madison, Wis., the results of which are given in the following table: Chemical Analyses of soils of Marinette Co ant i/. Soil type. No. Coloma loam , 92 A Do 102A Superior fine sandy loam 93A Coloma fine sandy loam 94 A Plainfield sand 199 A Coloma fine sand 200A Miami fine sandy loam, iiglit phase 201A Miami fine sandy loam.. 202A Dunl silos. The principal feed of cows is mixed hay. Hay is an important crop, averaging about 1 and one half tons per acre. Glover is grown to some extent, but not extensively. ]\lillet and some small grains and corn are occasionally gi-own for foiage. The soil is well adapted to dairying and this industry should lie developed. Alfalfa has been successfully grown on this soil, and it should be more widely raised. Because of its adajitation to all tlie ordinaiy crops and be- cause of its location this type constitutes the highest priced land in the county, the prices usually ranging from $50 to $90 an acre. Lighl pliasr. — There is a light ])hase of the ^liami fine sandy loam which is of extensive oeeui ranco. It is found in the south- eastern half of the county. The main area, lies in a belt trend- ing northeast-southwest througli the town of Pound, eastern MIAMI FINE RA^'DY LOAM. ' 27 Beaver Lake, and northern Porterfield. Isolated areas lie far- ther west in the western half of Beaver and in AVansaukee. The surface soil consists of a grayish medium to fine sandy loam, with depth of 6 to 10 inches, resting usually on a brownish fine sandy loam, which extends to a depth of 24 to 36 inches. The character of the subsoil is somewhat variable, ranging from fine sandy loam to a sandy clay m'xed Avith some stones. Below 24 to 36 inches there is generally a mixture of sand, gravel, and bowlders. This phase of the Miami fine sandy loam contains more sand and less stone than the other phase of this soil. Usually the more clayey phases of the soil are the most stony. The surface is usually very gently sloping, though in places it is undulating to hilly. The more undulating areas are in the vicinity south of the village of Wausaukee and in the west- em part of the town of Beaver. Even in the most uneven areas, however, the slopes are not i too steep for cultivation. Over most of the areas in the towns of Pound and eastern Beaver Lake the surface rises gently from 10 to 40 feet above the adjacent low tracts and swampy areas along the stream beds. The soil has its origin in the weathering of glacial drift over a sandy limestone and sandstone. Being derived from glacial drift, it is somewhat heterogeneous in character and the texture and composition of the subsoil lacks uniformity. The lower Magnesian limestone formation which underlies the main area of this soil contains considerable sand, and the weathering of the glacial debris worked up from this formation has resulted in a soil consisting of sand and limestone material varying in fineness from flour and small fragments up to large bowlders of lime rock. Mixed with the local limestone are a few bowlders of crystalline rock derived from more distant sources. Along the streams, especially the larger ones, such as Beaver Creek, Little Peshtigo River, and Peshtigo River, these are sandy tracts due to the action of these streams. In the areas of this soil are some gravel and sand ridges, locally known as "hogbacks," which owe their origin to glacial streams flowing in tunnels be- neath the glacial ice sheets. IMost of the important sandy tracts along the streams and the sand and gravel ridges of siibglacial oi'igin are shown on the soil iiia]>. Pr()1)ably al)out (me-tliird of this light phase of the type is 28 RECOm^OIBSANVE 80lL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. under cultivation. Originally it was covered with dense hard wood and white-i)ine forests. In some areas the pine greatly predominated, in others the hardwoods. The i)rineipal hard- woods are beech, maple, and l)irch, with a variable ninonnt of hemlock, oak, elm, and basswood. The level of ground water is quite generally from 10 to 40 feet below the surface. Abundant water for all domestic pur- poses can usually be obtained from the surface formation over- lying the bed rock. In some places the wells penetrate the underlying formation of limestone. About the same crops are grown oji this light pliase as on other parts of the Miami fine sandy loam. Oats Constitute the principal grain crop with wheat next in importance. Potatoes are also an im]K)rtant crop. The yield of oats i)er acre varies from 30 to 40 busliels and ])ota1()es from 125 to 195 bushels per acre. Barley is grown to some extent, yielding between 20 and 30 bushels per acre. Peas do exceptionally well, yields of 25 to 35 bushels per acre being often reported. Hay is a good crop, mixed clover and timothy usually yielding 2 to 3 tons per acre. Dairying and stock raising are not as important as they should be. While there are-two or three cheese factories within the area of this soil, the average amount of milk obtained from the cows is small, as compared with average conditions over the State. 'r\\v breed ©f milch cows should be improved and more atten- tion paid to care and feed of the herds. Tlie farni values usually vary between $50 and $85 an acre foi- improved land and about $15 to $20 for unimproved land. Tiie following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of the Miami fine sandy loam: ^f^•rhani(•(tl (inali/nin of Mitimi ftie i^andy loam. Numhor. De- sci'ip- t ion. l''ine triavpl. Coarse saiul . Mo- dill 111 saiiil. I'ino s;iM(i. Very tine sand. Silt. Claj-. 22753 22755 Soil Siilisoil. Pvr d . 0.9 1.7 P,rrt. 5.9 7.0 Perct. 9.4 S.4 Per ct. 24.0 24.5 Perct. 18.5 19.5 Per ct . 33.1 27.5 Per cl . - 4 227.54.22750,22759 11.1 Liyhl pluisc: 2274.5.22747,22751 Soil 0.7 G.2 12.5 29.4 14.8 29.9 (•..:! 22740,22748,227.52 Subsoil. 1..T 7.:i i:(.:! 28.7 10. 5 22.7 10.2 COLOMA FINE SAND. < 29 COLOMA FINE SAND. The Coloina fine sand, to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, consists of yellowish-brown fine sand. The subsoil, to 36 inches, is a yellow fine sand, which becomes slightly coarser in the lower depths. In the lower subsoil rock fragments and bowlders are sometimes found, and to same extent these are scattered over the surface. This type owes its origin to the last ice sheet and is largely cleared from terminal moraine. Jn some places it does not differ materially from the Plainfield sand, _ except in topography, which in the case of the fine sand is rolling to moderately hilly. Natural drainage is good ; in fact there is more likelihood of excessive drainage than of lack of drainage. The fine sand is preeminently the pine soil of the area", it having been originally covered with a heavy growth of white pine, with some Norway. At present, the timber growth con^ sists largely of scattered white pine, considerable Norway pine, and in some local areas jack pine and small oak. Like the Col- moa fine sandy laani, the fine sand occurs in northeast-south- west belts, with alternating areas of Plainfield sand, the latter mainly representing an older soil covering of the region on which the fine sand was deposited by thelatest ice sheets. Also like the Plainfield sand and Coloina fine sandy loam, the Coloma fine sand is in a practically undeveloped state. Nearly all these types, together with the Coloma loam, Superior fine sandy loam, Muck, and Peat, are in their virgin state, except that the timber is largely removed. On the surface of much of the upland areas is found a layer from one-half inch to 2 inches in thickness, of dark or black material, representing accumulations of organic material. The Coloma fine sand, like the Plainfield sand, is probably best adapted to a system of general farming restricted to certain grain crops and to dairying. It is a typical truck soil, but under the present condition of agricultural development and settlement of the region, location of markets, etc., it can not be utilized to advantage for the growing of truck. It is a soil which needs "body" added to it in the shape of manure and green crops plowed under. Early maturing crops, such as green corn, peas for canning, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., 30 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. shoiikl do Nvi'll on this type. At present it gives moderate yields of excellent potatoes, and fair yields of lye, mixed hay, oats, and corn. By proper management the farms on this soil can be made to yield good returns, many thrifty farms having already been developed upon it. Legume crops, to add nitrogen to the soil, should lie included in the crop rotation. Following clover, good crops of peas and beans can probably be grown. Average yield on the Coloma line sand are about as fol- lows: Corn, 20 to 35 bushels; oats, 25 to 35 bushels; peas, 12 to 18 bushels; potatoes, 100 to 150 bushels; and rye, 12 to 18 bushels. Practically no barley or wheat is grown. Unimproved or wild land is held at about the same price as the Plainfield sand, viz., $5 to $20 an acre. Improved farms are sold at $30 to $50 an acre. The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type. Mechaniral analysu of Coloma fine sand. Number. Descrip- tion. Fine gravel. Per ct. 0.1 1 Coarse sand. Medium sand. Fine sand. V^ery fine sand. Silt. Clay. 22,7aS, 22737 22,734, 22738 Soil Subsoil... Per ct. 5.5 4.6 Per cent. 14.6 13.6 Per ct. 35.4 41.9 Per ct. 23.4 29.9 Per ct. 15.2 7.1 Per ct. 5.2 2.4 COLOMA FINE SANDY LOAM. The Coloma fine sandy loam has a top soil, ]0 to 12 inches deep, of yellowish-brown, smooth, mellow, fine, to medium sandy loam. The subsoil to a depth of about 24 inches is a light- colored sandy loam, while from 24 to 36 inches is found a light yellow medium sand. The type is by no means uniform, be- ing of glacial origin, and varies from neary pure sand to a heavy sandy loam. The major portion, however, is as described above. The Coloma fine sandy loam is a terminal morainic type, and has a rolling to hilly topography. It is naturally well drained, but is rarely too hilly to be easily cultivated. Stones and bowlders are more or less plentiful, but seldom occur in GOLOMA FINE SANDY LOAM. 31 such quantities as to interfere witli cultivation. This soil, like most of the inij^ortant types in Marinette County, lies in north- easterly-southwesterly belts, that being the general distribution of the formations left by the last sheet of ice. The timber growth is mixed pine and hardwood, being largely white and Norway pine, white birch and red oak. Hemlock, basswood, maple, and elm do not thrive as they do on the heavier Miami fine sandj^ loam and the Coloma loam. Very little of the Coloma line sandy loam is under cultivation, as is true of all the types in Marinette County, with the except- ion of the Miami fine sandy loam and the Dunkirk fine sand. The home of a new settler on this type is shown in Plate II. However the few farmere located on the type are well satisfied with it and report fair yields, as follows : Oats,20 to 40 bushels; potatoes, 100 to 200 bushels; pease, 15 to 20 bushels; and hay, 1 ton to l^/o tons. This soil, like practically all the other sandy soils in the county, is low in org'anic matter, and af- ter the first few years of cultivation should be liberally manured. Potatoes are the crop probably best suited to this type, and rye, buckwheat, and bush fruits should be profitable crops. The incorporation of organic matter should not be neglected, as is so often the case in newly settled districts, because of the scarcity of stock, ('rops of rye, vetch, and clover, plowed un- der, preferably in the fall, would greatly benefit and build up such soils. One or more legumes should be included in the ro- tation, and all manure carefully saved and used. By judicious management the soil can be made to increase instead of decrease in productiveness and value. At present the Coloma fine sandy loam can be bought for $10 to $20 an acre in an uncleared state. The improved lands sell from $40 to $60 an acre. The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type : Mechanical analyses of Coloma fine sandy loam. Number. Descrip- tion. Fine gravel. Coarse sand. . 1 Very fine sand. Silt. Clay. 22741,22749 Soil Subsoil. Per ct. 0.6 1.4 Per ct. 6.5 r.6 Per ct. 10.8 8.8 Per ct. 20.4 17.6 Per ct. 20.6 24.0 Per ct. 34.0 32.9 Perct. 6 8 22743,22750 7.2 32 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. PLAINFIELD SAND; The Plainfield sand to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, consists of yellow medium to coarse sand, sometimes slightly loamy. From 8 to 36 inches the material is a yellow medium to coarse sand, growing lighten* in color and coarser in texture with depth. Some pebbles and fine gravel are found in the lower subsoil. As a whole, the soil is free from stones and bowlders, al- though outcrops of rock are sometimes found within the general soil area, and also an occasional erratic or glacial bowlder. The material composing this type was deposited by streams, and probably antedates the soils in the area which were formed as a result of the latest glacial action. The soil is locally known as "sandj" land," "jack-pine land," "sand plains," etc. Tlie typical timber growth consists of jack pine and scrub oak, with occasionally some Norway and a very few white pines. The surface of the ground is usualh^ covered with l)rako, sweet fern, blueberry bushes, and wild oat grass. Jack pine is characteristic of the type. The jack pine occurs sometimes on other soils, but only to a limited extent, the med- ium to coarse sand being its natural habitat. Tlie topography is level to gently rolling, being usually nearly level, as its alluvial origin would indicate (PI. TIT, fig. 1). In some localities, however, as in the area southeast of High Falls, Avind formed dunes occur in such numbers as to give the type a rolling surface. These dunes are often of slightly finer tex- ture than the soil of more level areas, consisting of clean, loose sand, and are considered less valuable than the main type. Other and larger sand hills occur less frequently, being eskers, or deposits formed by glacial water under ice. The Plainfield sand is an extensive type, covering an area of 151,488 acres, or 3 6.8 per cent of the county. Although the siu-face is level to undulating, the porous character of tlio soil and llie (lei)tli and coarseness of the subsoil give good iiatiii'al drainage. The level character of the land and the compar- ative ease of clearing often impress newcomers, especially those from the prairie States, so favorably that they purchase farms on this type in preference to those supporting hardwood, al- though the prices may be nearly the same. Satisfactory yields Wisconsin Survey. Bulletin XXIV, 1'latk II [. Fig. 1. TYPICAL VIEW OP PLAINFIELD SAND, UNDEVELOPED, JACK PINE PLAINS. SBC. 4, T. 36, R. 20 E. Pig. 2. VIEW OF FARM DEVELOPED ON THE PLAINFIELD SAND. SEC. 5, T. 34, R. 20 E. Fig. 1. VIEW OF COLOMA LOAM SHOWING TYPICAL DENSE HARDWOOD FOREST NEAR GOODMAN. PIG. 2. VIEW OF NEWLY CLEARED FIELD ON COLOMA LO IM AT GOODMAN. PLAIM-IELD 8AXD. ;J3 can be produced on the Plainfield sand only with heavy appli- cations of manure. Green manures, especially legumes, are highly beneficial and should be more generally used. A com- mon mistake is to grow several crops of oats or other grains upon newly cleared land, thus reducing the productiveness to a low stage, before a system of building up the .soil by grow- ing clover and other legumes is begun. By proper farm manage- ment good stands of clover can be produced. Clover can be followed by a money crop which will do well. The bean crop, though rarely grown on this soil in ^Marinette County, is well adapted to sandy soils of this chai'acter and could be grown with profit. While a good living can be obtained by farmers on this soil, it should be emphasized that the type is not especially pro- ductive and that care should l)e taken at the outset not only to maintain the original productiveness of the land Imt to prac- tice some system of farming that will tend to increase this pro- ductiveness from year to year. That prosperous farms can be de- veloped on the Plainfield sand, when rightly managed, is shown by the presence of some thrifty farms in a number of places. (PI III, fig. 2.) At the same time there are some abandone.l farms on the type which may be expected with poor manage- ment. The type seems best adapted, when operated along general lines, to potatoes, rye, ancl clover. Fair crops of potatoes are readily grown, the tubers being of excellent quality. ]More satisfactory yields of buckwheat and rye are secured under the prevailing farm management than of oats or corn. The ty])e is entirely too light for either wheat or barley or sugar beets, although Mdiat few beets are grown on the light soils in the area have the compensating factor of a higher sugar content. But little corn is grown on this type, and much of the prod- uct is used for fodder. Twenty to 30 bushels per acre is a good yield. Other crops yield as follows: Oats 20 to 80 bushels: rye, 10 to 15 bushels; buckwheat, 12 to 15 bushels; peas, ]0 to 15 bushels, hay, three-fourths ton to IV2 tons; and pota- toes, 75 to 150 bushels per acre. A rotation qiilte co.iimonly followed is corn or potatoes, oats, and hay, tlie mowing lands being left as long as they are considered profitable. '^-0 u«;u- 34 RECOXXOISSAXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. ally is put on the new fields, followed by corn or potatoes. A rotation liotter adapted to this type would be potatoes, field peas, and mixed hay, leaving the sod not longer than two or three years. The peas could be sold at a good price, the oats or other concentrates purchased. As more land is broken up and more stock kept, fodder corn could be grown in the same place in the rotation as potatoes. This rotation is only tenta- tive ; more satisfactory ones may be suggested by practice. There is no question, however, that better rotations than of com, oats, and grass, leaving the grass down for a long period, can be worked out and used on this soil. At present prices for the Fla infield sand range from $5 to $18 an acre for "wild" or unimproved land, depending on the location, and $30 to $50 for cleared land. The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type: Mechanical analyses of Plainfield sand. Number. Descrip- tion. Fine gravel. Coarse sand. Me- dium sand. Fine sand. Very fine sand. Silt. Clay. 22727. 22729. 2:273 1.22739. 22728,22730.22732.22740. Soil Subsoil . Per ct. 0.5 .5 Per ct. 17.8 17.2 Per ct. 30.9 31.1 Per ct. 33.9 38.8 Per ct. 5.8 15.5 Per etm 6.5 2.7 Pej;ct. 4.» S.O' DUNKIRK FIXE SAND. The soil of the Dunkirk fine sand consists of a gray to dark brownish-gray fine sand to fine sandy loam, with a depth of 8 to 10 inches. From this depth to about 18 inches occurs a pale yellow fine sand and from 18 to 36 inches a brighter yellow, fine sand, sometimes slighth' mottled. The topography is level to gently undulating, although in some local areas sand dunes and eskers are so numerous as to give a hummocky surface. The type seems to be a delta deposited in glacial Lake Michigan or Lake Algonquin by streams from the ice sheet to the north and west. There is onh^ one area of this character in ^Marinette County. It extends from a few miles north of ^Marinette south along Green Bay to the county DUNKIRK FIXE SAND. 35 line and is about 6 miles wide. Beyond the county limits it reaches south along the shore nearly to the city of Oconto, re- taining practically the same width as in ]\larinette County. The western edge of this area is somewhat more loamy than the rest, being influenced by the IMiami sandy loam. The old beach line of Lake Algonquin constitutes the boundary and is sharply de- fined in only a few places, being about 40 feet above the present level of Lake Michigan, while the average elevation of the Dun- kirk fine sand is probably about 10 to 20 feet above the lake. In its primitive state this type was covered with a thick growth of jack pine, red oak, and white birch, white and yel- low poplar, and some white and Norway pine, and in the wet places with tamarack and cedar. IMany scattered areas of Peat, slightly lower than those of the surrounding -soil, occur. Tlies-e, when cleared, or where not forested, are used for hay, of which from three-fourths ton to l^^ tons per acre of rather coarse quality is secured. Where forested, peat supports tamarack, cedar, alder, and a little elm, birch, and ash. The Dunkirk fine sand, as a whole, has a very flat surface. The water level is only 5 to 10 feet below the surface, and in many minor depress- ions the soil shows grayish white mottling, due to imperfect drainage. In wet seasons the higher lying fields give much the better results, while in dry seasons the reverse is true. This soil is a typical truck soil, but it is used at the present time mainly for general farming. Rye, hay, and potatoes are the leading crops; oats and little corn practically complete the list, The average yield of rye is 15 to 18 bushels ; of hay 1 to 2 tons, and of potatoes from 100 to 125 bushels per acre. Oats do not yield especially well, ordinarily 20 to 30 bushels per acre. Corn yields from 25 to 40 bushels, depending largely on the season. Owing to its proximity to the towns of Marinette, Menom- inee. Mich, and Peshtigo, to its productiveness under judicious management, and ease of cultivation, the Dunkirk fine sand is held at rather high prices — from $50 to $75 an acre. It is a type which responds readily to manure, and this fact, together with its nearness to market, makes the keeping of cattle espec- ially profitable. Dairying, mainly for the production of butter, is prominent on this type. A few are starting in the truck bus- iness on a small scale and doubtless in a short time the adapt- 36 RECOXXOTfif^AXOK SiOlL SURVEY OF MARIXETTE CO. al'ility of this soil to tlie trucking industry will be more clearly" recognized, and an important business will be developed, with the cities of ^Marinette and IMenominee as the primary markets. Chicago and North AYestern Railway traverses the type, and this' fact, together with direct water transportation to Mil- waukee, Chicago, and other large Lake cities, will have an im- portant bearing on tlio development of the soil in the produc- tion of the less perishable kinds of truck crops. The following table gives the average results of mechanical analy.ses of the soil and subsoil of this type: Mechanical analyses of Dunkirk fine sand. Number. Descrip- tion. Fine gravel. Coarse sand. Medi- um sand. Fine sand. Very fine sand. Silt. Clay. 227)7.22719.22721 22718,22720.22722 Soil Subsoil. Per ct. 0.1 .0 Per ct. 0.6 .2 Per ct. 2.9 5.4 Per ct. 59,8 73.6 Per ct. 18.5 16.3 Per ct. 11.8 2.5 Per ct. 6.0 1.8 SUPERIOR FINE SANDY LOAM. The soil of the Superior fine sandy loam, consists of 6 to 8 inches of gray to reddish medium textured sand. Underlying the sand, and rather sharply separated from it, occurs a stiff, tenaci- ous, very impeiwious red clay, the red color having a peculiar pin- kish red or light chocolate tinge. The clay subsoil is lacustrine in origin, liaving doubtless been laid down at the same time as the Superior clay near Green Bay, Duluth. and Superior. The scuidy topsoil is of later glacial origin, having been deposited on the clay by subsequent glacial action. This covering of sand is of varying thickness ; in some places the clay subsoil lies practically at the surf aee, while in others the sand is 2 feet deep. This type is found only in limited areas in Marinette County. The different isolated patches, north and south of Dunbar, ev- idently lie in an old drainage basin or depression. In general the topography is level to gently undulating, but the soil is nevertheless fairly well drained, as is indicated by the original timber growth of white pine. The Superior fine sandy loam is a very good general farm- ing' soil. Tts areal extent in ^Marinette Countv is so limited COLOMA LOAM. 37 as to make it eoiuparatively iiiiiinportant, but it is kuowu to be well adapted to clover and timothy for hay and pasture, to potatoes, and root crops. It is especially suited to strawberries and raspberries and other bush fruits. Some such special in- dustry will doubtless be developed on it in time, as the mining country to the north furnishes an excellent market for the fancy as well as the staple farm products. The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type: M^chanual analyses of Superior fine sandy loam Number. Descrip- tion. Fine gravel. Coarse sand. Medi- um sand. iFine sand. Very fine sand. Silt. Cla.v. 22757 22758 Soil Subsoil. Per ct. 0.3 .0 Per ct. 5.5 0.4 Per ct. 14.7 1.0 Per ct. 52.3 3.3 Per ct. 13.6 4.0 Per ct. 11,1 53.6 Per ct. 3.2 37.7 COLOMA LOAM. The soil of the Coloma loam is a brownish fine sandy to silty loam, with a depth of 6 to 8 inches. The surface 2 or 3 inches often has a grayish color. From 8 to 18 inches the subsoil con- sists of brown s^ndy loam to loam. Below 18 inches there occurs an increase in the content of sand, and the subsoil as a whole is generally lighter and more sandy than the surface soil. Throughout the soil and subsoil are found many stones and bowlders. This stony loam soil, which is known locally as heavy hard- wood land, lies in the northwestern part of the county. It is derived from the weathering of glacial drift overlying granitic rocks of various kinds. The surface is very gently undulating. There is a difference of 10 to 50 feet between the elevation of the lower lands along the streams and the adjacent higher land, but the gentle slope as well as the character of the soil tends to prevent damaging erosiu. This soil covered with dense forests of hardwoods and hem- lock (PI. IV fig. 1), has a wide extent over Forest County and the adjacent region to the west. In IMarinette County it is un- developed agriculturally, and is still heavily timbered with hard- 38 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. woods and hemlocks, iiiaiuly the latter-named tree. Prom- inent among the hardwood species are sugar maple, birch, elm, oak, and some basswood. Inroads upon the forest are now be- ing rapidly made by the lumber companies at Goodman and Wausaukee. There are one or two farms upon the type in the vicinity of the village of Goodman. (PI. IV, fig. 2.) The level of ground water in this soil is probably from 10 to 50 feet from the surface, and sufficient well water for do- mestic purposes can very generally 1)6 obtained from the drift overlying the hard crystalline rock. The water is excellent, be- ing typical soft water. The Coloma loam, as just stated is still a virgin soil, un- opened to agriculture. The dense stand of hardwoods found upon it, however, is a good indicator of considerable natural fertilit}'. The excessive quantity of stone in places is an ob- jectional feature. On almost every section are areas too stony for successful cultivation, but such stony areas are generally small and can be conveniently devoted to wood lots or pasture lands, and most of the type is sufficiently free from stone to be used for farming. All the general farm crops can be grown on this soil, but it is probably best adapted to potatoes, oats, rye, peas, clover, and grasses. It is a favorable type for dairying, and a system of agriculture built about dairying as a leading industry is prob- ably the most promising. Corn for ensilage and also other forage crops can be grown successfully. By developing dairying as a leading industry, and giving some attention to sheep raising, the productiveness of the farms can be maintained or increased. The hardier varieties of apples can undoubtedly be grown for home use, and all kinds of garden liervies and vegetables can be produced. No values can be given for cleared farm lands on this type. Unimproved cut-over lands containing little or no merchantable timber, are held at $5 to $15 an acre. The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type: MUCK. 39 Meclmmcal analyse,s of Coloma loam. Number. Description. Fine gravel. Coarse sand. Med- ium sand. Fine sand. Very fine sand. 8ilt. Clay. 22723. 22725 Soil Per ct. 0.4 1.1 Per ft. 3.5 5.1 Per ct. 5.5 7.0 Per ct. 9.4 12. S Per ct. 19.9 24.6 Per ct. 52.2 40.1 Per ct. 8.6 22724, 22726 Subsoil 7.8' MUCK. ]\Iuck consists of a mixture of organic matter with a rel- atively small though varying proportion of mineral materials. It has been formed in areas of deficient drainage where a rank^ vegetation flourished. The organic part of the soil represents the accumulated decaying remains of plants and the mineral portion the more or less finely comminuted rock particles car- ried into the depressions by streaims or by the wind. The de- posits are often many feet in depth. The Muck is generally in a swampy condition. There are many such areas in jMarinette Count5^ They usually lie along the smaller streams, but occasionally form interstream areas of considerable' extent. Some of the wet lands along the streams are treeless and called "hay marshes" while other, generally overflow land, sup- port a growth of swamp maple, alder, white birch, and water elm. Much of the marsh and swamp areas comprise soils ranging texturally from IMuek to sandy loam, the determining factor in separating this type being lack of drainage rather than tex- ture. When drained some of the areas of swamp will be prac- tically the same as the surrounding type, while others will be more like true alluvial soil. Some of the overflow lands are very fertile and when cleared and drained will constitute the best soils on many farms. A few areas were cleared and used for wild hay. In addition to the swamps along the rivers and small streams, there are numerous swamps of greatly varying size, over inter- stream areas, paetieally all of which are covered with a more or less valuable growth of cedar, tamarack, or both. The largest of these forested swamps does not exceed 4 square miles in area, 40 liECOXXOISSAKCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARIXETTE CO. and most of them could Ix' drained, adding a large area to the valual)l(' agricultui'nl land and taxahlo rosourcos of the eonnty. \(;n(' of tile heavy Mack Muck in the county is under iniltiva- tion. hut when di-ained this type is valuahlc for ti'uck crops, such as celery, onions, spinach, lettuce, and pei)perniint. PEAT. ]\Iost of the Peat/ in ]\larinette County is situated iu the south- east corner adjacent to, or surrounded by, the Dunkirk fine sand. Locally the areas are called "peat bogs" or "hay marsh," to distinguish it from the swamps in which cedar or tamarack is always found. The true Peat is a level, usually treeless ex- panse, very wet in the spring and early summer, and support- ing a rank growth of marsh grass, cat-tails, mosses, and other water-loving plants and shrubs. The soil in tliese areas consists of organic marter in various stages of decomposition, and of varying depth, underlain by a medium to coarse grayish-white sand. The average depth of the organic material is about 2 feet. Tn places this covering has largely the character of JMuck. but for the most part it is more accurately described as Peat, being a brownish or dark brown mass of partially rotted moss, leaves, and other veg- etable remains of a spongy, coarse consistency. ]\ruch greater progress has been made in developing this type than in the case of IMuck, owing to the proximity of the former to the cities of ^Marinette and Peshtigo. A]>out 2 miles west of ]\Iarinette a number of progressive farmers have fornied a drainage district and have successfully drained a large area of Peat by digging a deep canal through it. Considerable diffieult.v has been experienced during the last year, however, owing to filling in of the ditches by sand, brought in by seepage waters from the sides. Diking or ripra]iping may have to be resorted to. The State experiment station has had a cooperative station located on the Peat west of ^Marinette. Various experiments have been conducted there by the resident farmer, under di- rection of the station. AYhere farmers have both the Peat and the sandy soils it is best to reserve the manure to be used on the sandy soil and ap- SUMMARY. 41 ply wood ashes and phosphate fertilizers to the Peat, because the sandy soils are benefited by all the constituents, especially the nitrogen contained in the manure, while the Peat, rich in nitrogen, respands to the potash, phosphate, and lime con- tained in the ashes. The ashes can be obtained in considerable quantities fi-oin the mills in Marinette and Menominee. ROCK OUTCROP. There are a few local areas in Marinette County in which ledges of the underlying rock outcrop in sufficient number to make such areas practically worthless for agricultural purposes. These have been shown on the map by symbols but are included in the areas of other soil types. The principal areas of this character occur in Tp. 37, R. 21, Tp. 38, Rs. 20" and 21, and Tp. 37, R. 18, although there are several smaller areas in other townships in the northern part of the county. The material composing these outcrops is mostly red and gray granite, and to some extent greenstone. In the areas mentioned above, the rock does not appear at the surface over the entire area, but does appear so frequently and is often so near the surface in the spaces between the actual outcrops, that little can ever be done with the land agriculturally. The only practical use is for forestry or pasturage. Outcropping ledges are by no means uncommon all over the area underlain by crystalline formations, w^hich embrace approximately the northern three-fifths of the county, but except where indicated on the map, are so infre- quent as to be practically negligible. SUMMARY. Marinette County is located in the northeastern part of "Wisconsin, and has an area of 1,413 square miles. The surface varies from nearly level plains to low^ undulating hills. The altitude adjacent to Green Bay is 580 feet, and in the northwestern part of the county about 1,500 to 1,600 feet. The drainage is through the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers. The climate is rigorous in winter and warm in summer, the mean winter temperature being 15.7° F., and the mean 42 RECONNOISSAl^^CE SOIL SURVEY OF MAJtlNETTE CO. summer temperature 64.6° F. The average annual precipita- tion is 28 inches, about 20 inches for the growing season and 8 inches for the non-growing season. The first settlement in Marinette County Avas made by the fur traders in 1791. The first farm Avas started in 1826. Agri- cultui-e. however, only liegan to be important in the period between 1870 and 1880. The county was originally heavily forested with pine, hard- woods, and hemlock. Practically all the pine has been cut, but heav>' stands of hardwoods and hemlock still remain in the northwestern part. A large part of the county is cut-over land. In 1905 about 20 per cent of the count^v was laid out in farms, and 6.7 per cent of the county was improved land. In 1910, U. S. census, 24.2 per cent of the county was in farms, and 8.7 per cent of the land area of the county was improved. It is estimated that the land that will finally be improved is 70 to 75 per cent of the county. Agriculture, therefore, is still in its formative stage. Up to very recently the manufacture of lumber products has been more important than agriculture. At present, however, agriculture is as important as manufacturing, and will prob- ably be more important than manufacturing in the future. The population of the county increased from 5,057 in 1875 to 33,810 in 1910. About one-half the population is on the farms and one-half in the villages and cities. Most of the population is native born. The foreign born are mainly from Canada, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Denmark. The improved land increased from 16,989 acres in 1885 to 79,474 acres in 1910. The value of the farms in 1885 was less than $1,000,000 and in 1910 $6,489,590. The county is well supplied with railroads and local markets. The city of Marinette, population 14,610 U. S. Census, 1910, is the county seat. A county agricultural school is maintained at Marinette. A State experimental farm, on sandy soil, is estab- lished at Crivitz. The soils are of glacial and alluvial origin, derived from limestone, sandstone, and granite debris. Seven types of soil, SUMMARY. 43 •exclusive of Muck, Peat, and Rock outcrop or stony land, were mapped. The Miami fine sandy loam is undulating- land, and supported generally a strong growth of heavy hardwood and pine, most of which has been cut. It is the best soil in the county and suitable to all farm crops. The Coloma loam, undulating and often stony land, is still forested with dense groM'th of hardwoods and hemlocks. Though practically undeveloped, it is a fertile soil, as indicted by its dense growth of timber. The Coloma fine sandj^ loam is generally undulating to hilly land, and originally supported a mixed growth of pine and hard woods, mainlj^ oaks. This type is especially well adapted to potatoes, corn, oats, rye, peas, and clover. The Superior fine sand loam is relatively unimportant in extent, and consists of sand over a subsoil of red clay on level areas. It has about the same crop adaptations as the Coloma fine sandy loam. The Dunkirk fine said is low, level sandy land, associated with Peat land within the area of the former Algonquin Lake between Marinette and Peshtigo. The Colom-a fine sand is hill}' and iTndulating land, orig- inally forested mainly with white and Norway pine, and some jack pine, while the Plainfield sand is level, and is known as the jack pine plain type. The sandy soils — Dunkirk fine sand, Coloma fine sand, and Plainfield sand — are typical truck soils, but under present conditions should be devoted to general farming with oats, rye, corn, potatoes, and the soy bean as principal crops. Mammoth clover should be grown extensively in order to supply nitrogen and organic material to these sandy soils. The Muck areas have not yet been brought under culti- vation. The Peat west of Marinette has been cropped suc- cessfully M'here properly drained and fertilization by manure or wood ashes has been applied. The rough land of the area, that which is too stony to be cultivated, should be devoted to forestry or to sheep raising. All the soils of the area are given applications of barnyard 44 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. manure, but very little commercial fertilizer is used. j\Iany of the soils, especially the sandy types, appear to be in an acid condition, and would be benefited by applications of lime. Fruit growing, especially small fruits and bush fr^^its, might well be extended. Apples, adapted toj the climate, do well on the hardwood types of soils, and with proper care have proven to be a profitable crop. Sugar beets are grown suc- cessfully on the Miami fine sandy loam. Dairying and stock raising are important industries in the county on all soil types, and should be increased, not only for the money profit to be derived, but also as an important means in conjunction with proper crop rotation, including the plen- tiful growing of clover and the use of fertilizers, in develop- ing a system of permanent agriculture. '-'O ' ? .'■ ? r r -i V. t^-^^^«jH|g ^f id] 25f o;i- o|^ :;; If? I I =? L__J^E LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 002 684 339 fl •