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506 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1922
right. The same is true of corn, which is sometimes grown. The
sol is handled in the same way as the other heavier types of the
region.
Land of this type ranges in price from $25 to $60 an acre, depending
on improvements and distance from towns.
The Miles clay loam is productive, and the productiveness can be
maintained by keeping an adequate supply of organic matter in the
soil.
ABILENE FINE SANDY LOAM
The Abilene fine sandy loam consists of chocolate-brown to dark
chocolate brown, heavy fine sandy loam, underlain at depths ranging
from 5 to 14 inches by dark chocolate brown clay loam or sandy clay
loam to clay, which passes at depths of 18 to 24 inches into chocolatebrown
to slightly reddish brown clay or clay loam containing considerable
lime in the form of soft chalky particles. In some places
the lower subsoil is yellowish brown. The content of lime increases
rapidly with depth, and at about 3 to 5 feet predominates, the material
here being a mixture of salmon-colored clay and soft whitish
lime carbonate. In places the upper subsoil varies to the texture
of a loam or even a fine sandy loam.
The surface soil and upper subsoil are not sufficiently calcareous, as
a rule, to effervesce with acid. When dry the soil bakes rather hard
and is difficult to plow, but breaks down into fine fragments when
exposed to rains. The immediate surface dries out to a light chocolate
brown color.
In some places where wells have been dug in this type a bed of
gravel 10 feet thick is encountered some 30 feet below the surface.
This is especially noted in the central part of the county in the
vicinity of Soldier Mound Church.
The Abilene fine sandy loam occupies a number of small areas in
various parts of the county. The largest are in the northern part
in the vicinity of Prairie Chapel several miles south and east of
Afton.
The surface is flat and in many places slightly depressed. Surface
drainage is rather poor and underdrainage, on account of the heavy
subsoil, is slow. However, in a region of light rainfall lack of drainage
is rarely a drawback and is commonly an advantage. The subsoil
holds a good supply of water for crops and it is said that crops
on this type withstand periods of drought remarkably well.
Though not extensive, this is a valuable agricultural type, and
probably half of it is in cultivation. In its natural condition it
supports a rather heavy to light scattering growth of small mesquite
trees, with some chaparral and cat's-claw bushes. There is also a good
growth of grasses, consisting of buffalo, grama, and needle grasses,
with some mesquite grass.
The main crops are cotton, grain sorghum, and sorgo. Some corn,
wheat, and oats have been grown at times, but climatic conditions do
not favor these crops every year, though in favorable seasons good
yields have been obtained. The average yield of cotton is around onehalf
bale per acre, although in especially favorable seasons as much
as 1 bale per acre has been harvested. Milo, the principal grain
sorghum, yields 25 to 50 bushels per acre, producing a very full,