Buckwheat is confined largely to the sandy portion of the
county and is not extensively grown. The acreage in 1909 was
2,349, yielding 23,680 bushels, or an average of 10 bushels per
acre.
Wheat was extensively grown earlier in the history of the
county, but the acreage at present is small. In 1909 there were
449 acres of winter wheat, which averaged 16.8 bushels per acre,
and 901 acres of spring wheat, which averaged 18.1 bushels per
acre. Wheat is confined chiefly to the heavier soils of the area
and as a rule does fairly well. It is not probable that the acre-
age will be increased, since dairying is becoming the chief fac-
tor in the agriculture of the area, especially in the region where
most of the wheat was formerly grown.
Potatoes are grown more extensively than any other of the
other special crops and the acreage exceeds that of several of the
general farm crops. In 1909 there were 11,992 acres, which
GENERAL AGRICULTURE OF JUNEAU COUNTY. 75
yielded 748,530 bushels, or an average of 62.4 bushels per acre.
Most of the potatoes intended for market are grown on the sandy
soils, though on the silt soils they are grown for home use and
the surplus seld. The growing of potatoes could doubtless be
profitably extended.
The growing of tobacco 1 began about the time the hop indus-
try declined, and while it is not cultivated as extensively at pres-
ent as it has been, there is still considerable grown in various
parts of the county, especially in the southern part. The fine
sandy loam soils are probably the most desirable, as they pro-
duce an early crop of thin, light-colored, elastic leaves. These
soils usually contain only a small amount of humus and require
an annual dressing of barnyard manure to maintain their fer-
tility. The slit loam types, on account of a tendency to become
heavy and compact in texture through the loss of humus, do not
always produce as fine a leaf after several years of cultivation
as the sandy soils. The "new breaking" on this type of soil,
however, has the reputation of producing the finest quality of
heavy-yielding crops. Where tobacco is grown, nearly all of the
manure produced on the farm is applied to the tobacco field at
the expense of the rest of the farm. Crop rotations are neces-
sary to maintain the fertility of the soil. A successful method
provides for growing tobacco three years in succession, followed
by corn, barley, and clover each one year. Oats may be substi-
tuted for barley on the poorer soils. Since tobacco occupies the
land but a part of the year, the use of a cover crop is desirable.
Grains and legumes such as rye and hairy vetch are used to ad-
vantage.
The cranberry 2 industry of Wisconsin is confined chiefly to
the the counties of Wood, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe, Winne-
bago, and Waushara. The average crop of Wisconsin is about
75,000 barrels per year. The industry in Juneau County is not
as extensive as formerly, many of the bogs having been run over
by fires and never replanted. The cranberries are grown on
1 For further information on tobacco culture see Bulletin 206,
University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.
2 Buls. 119, 213, and 219, Wis. Agr. Expt. Sta., and Bui. "T,"
Weather Bureau, U. S. Dept. of Agr,
76 SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.
areas of Peat, and under the head Peat and Muck (undifferen-
tiated) the industry is discussed at greater length.
The cutting of wire grass and the gathering of sphagnum
moss are special industries which have reached considerable mag-
nitude in this county. The growth of these plants is confined to
the low, marshy areas mapped as Peat and Muck (undifferenti-
ated) and Sands and Peat (undifferentiated). Fires have re-
duced the amount of moss available, and shipments are decreas-
ing yearly. From 20 to 30 carloads are shipped from Mather
each year. As high as 154 carloads of baled wire grass have
been shipped from Cranberry Center in one season.
A small amount of clover seed is produced in connection with
general farming in various parts of the county. In Lyndon
Township more alsike clover seed is grown than in any other
part of the area. Some red clover seed is also secured in cer-
tain sections of the hilly country.
Cucumbers for pickling are grown at various points in the
county, especially on the sand or fine sandy loam types. The
crop is usually a profitable one and very satisfactory returns
are frequently secured. Pickle factories are located at Lyndon
and Mauston.
Trucking has not been extensively developed on a commercial
scale in any part of the county. However, such crops as straw-
berries, bush berries, cabbage, tomatoes, melons, etc., are grown
to supply the home markets, and it would seem that the indus-
try could be extended, especially along the railroad lines, which
provide excellent transportation facilities.
The fruit industry has not been developed on a commercial
scale, though there are small apple orchards on a number of the
farms. There are many good orchard sites throughout the
rougher portions of the county and locations could be selected
which would be suitable for the growing of apples. Each farm,
where the soils and other conditions are favorable, should at
least support a small apple orchard sufficient to supply the
home and perhaps provide some for the market. Other fruits,
such as bush berries and strawberries, are as well adapted to
conditions here as the apple and are being successfully grown" in
the Sparta district, the soils of which are similar to those in Ju-
neau County.
GENERAL AGRICULTURE OF JUNEAU COUNTY. 77
"While the dairy industry is not as highly or as extensively de-
veloped in Juneau County as in many other sections of Wiscon-
sin, it is, nevertheless, the most important branch of farming in
the region surveyed. There are ten creameries and 3 cheese fac-
tories in the county. One creamery is located at Necedah, and
the remainder are in the west-central and southern sections of
the county. Dairying has been developed mostly on the silt
loam soils and on the sandy types which are underlain by clay.
In the northern part of the region surveyed, where the soils are
very sandy or where marshy conditions prevail, there are no
creameries or cheese factories. For every 100 head of cattle in
Juneau County there are 54.8 milch cows. The total number of
dairy cows is 1,5345. Wherever the Knox silt loam and the
other heavier soils of the county are found the number of cows
is considerably greater than where the soils are very sandy.
Aside from the milk and cream disposed of through the cheese
factories and creameries, considerable butter is made on some
of the farms, and all of the towns within the area are supplied
with milk and cream from near-by dairy farms. There are a
number of good dairy farms in the county, and on some of these
pure-bred, registered stock of the various breeds is raised.
A gradual decrease is taking place in the production of grain
and tobacco and an increase in dairying and hog raising. This
change seems to be more apparent among the American farmers
than among those who are foreign born. Dairying is not only
more profitable from a financial standpoint, but it tends to build
up the fertility of the soil and is a more certain proposition
from year to year than the growing of tobacco. The slopes of
the rough country furnish sufficient pasture for a larger num-
ber of dairy stock than is now kept, and the industry should be
extended.
The raising of beef 'cattle is not nearly as extensive as the dairy
industry, though there are some purebred Aberdeen Angus,
Shorthorns, and a few Heref ords in the area. Most of the stock
sold for beef is of mixed breed and usually consists of a few head
from a number of farms rather than a large number from a few
beef-producing farms.
Some hogs are raised in connection with dairying, but the
number of hogs in the county is less than the number of dairy
78 SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.
cows. 'The number of both classes of stock is comparatively
small and could well be increased. Hog raising in conjunction
with dairying can be made a very profitable line of farming.
The number of sheep in the county is about equal to the num-
ber of hogs. Sheep raising is confined largely to the rougher
portion of the county, where there is considerable steep land
which can not be used for cultivated crops. The number of sheep
in the area surveyed, as given in the census for 1910, is 15,716.
It would seem that even though more pasture is required for cows,
owing to the extension of dairying, a greater number of sheep
could readily be kept, since there is a considerable area on the
average farm in the hill country which can be used for nothing
but pasture.
It is generally recognized within the county that certain soils
are better adapted to certain crops than other soils. For exam-
ple, the finest grade of tobacco is grown on the sandy soils which
are underlain by clay. Barley, oats, and corn give better re-
sults on the heavy soils than on the sands. Rye and buckwheat
do better on the sands than any of the other crops commonly pro-
duced in the county. Potatoes give the best results on the sands
or sandy loams underlain by clay. But little success has been
attained in raising clover on the sand, while on the heavier soils
good yields are usually secured. The question of adaptation of
soils to crops, however, has not been thoroughly worked out, and
considerably more study and experimental work are necessary
before final recommendations can be made.
A number of different rotations are practiced, but in many
cases it was found that no definite system was followed. On the
heavier soil types, which are confined to the southern part of
the county, the most common rotation consists of corn, barley,
and oats, with the oats seeded to clover and timothy mixed. Hay
may be cut for one or two years or the field may be pastured a
year before plowing again for corn. On the sandy soils in the
central, eastern, and northeastern parts of the county rye and
buckwheat are quite commonly grown, and more potatoes are
produced than on the heavier soils. A rotation consisting of
clover, potatoes, and rye is a good one for the sandy soils, but as
a rule no definite system has been followed on the majority of
GENERAL AGRICULTURE OF JUNEAU COUNTY. 79
sand farms. In the rotation suggested the first crop of clover
should be cut for hay and the second crop plowed under as a
green manuring crop. It is important that every farmer should
give the matter of selecting a crop rotation very careful atten-
tion. It has been found that commercial fertilizers can often
be used to advantage on the sandy soils in getting legumes
started.
The methods of cultivation which are followed on the heavier
soils of the southern and southwestern parts of the county are
better adapted to conditions existing there than are the methods
followed in the central and northern parts adapted to sandy soils.
On the heavier types considerable fall plowing is done. As a
rule the fields are well cultivated and in a fair condition of tilth
at the time of seeding. More frequent after cultivation of inter-
tilled crops would tend to conserve the soil moisture by forming
a mulch upon the surface. The question of erosion is an import-
ant one, and many of the slopes "which are now badly washed
could have been preserved had proper methods been followed to
prevent erosion. The steepest slopes now timbered should be
kept in timber. "When steep slopes are cleared they should be
kept in grass and pastured as much as possible. ^-Where culti-
vated, strips of sod may be alternated with cultivated crops, the
strips running at right angles to the slope. On the more gentle
slopes contour cultivation may be followed over the entire field.
In some places strips of sod form shallow ditches down the slope,
through which the surface water runs off. This system, how-
ever, is less desirable than where the sod strips run at right
angles to the slope.
Throughout that portion of the county occupied by the deep
sand types the farm buildings, fences, etc., are of inferior grade,
often in a poor state of repair, and the equipment is limited.
On the sandy types underlain by clay conditions are better,
while on the heavier soils the farm buildings, cultivated fields,
and farm stock indicate a more thrifty and prosperous condi-
tion than is found elsewhere in the area surveyed.
The question of securing farm labor is not as serious here as
in some other parts of the State, since there are no large cities
or manufacturing plants very near to draw away the labor.
80 SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.
Some difficulty, however, is experienced in getting the quality
of help desired. The wages paid range from $25 to $35 per
month, with board, or $1.50 to $1.75 per day during the haying
and harvest time.
The Ic-sses resulting from weeds are not as great in Jun^au
County as in some other portions of the State, but concerted
effort should be made to exterminate all noxious weeds without
delay. Quack grass, Canada Thistle and Wild Mustard are
among the most troublesome weed pests in this region. "Fallow-
ing or cultivation without a crop is the most certain method of
eradication on large areas, and may be used to good advantage
except on the most sandy soils, and those continuously wet or
very porous. Success depends upon the depth of plowing and
frequent cultivation. The prevention of leaf growth in weeds
means certain death. Certain cropping systems will usually be
successful with Quack Grass.-' '*
Of the total land area of the county 67.1 per cent is in farms,
and on the average 66 acres of each farm is improved land.
There are 2,470 farms in the county, the average size being 140
acres. Of all farms 87.6 per cent are operated by the owner, and
of the remainder something over half are operated on the share
system of renting.
The value of land in Juneau County is extremely variable,
and prospective buyers should examine carefully into the char-
acter of the soil, drainage conditions, and the crops to which the
various soils are adapted before locating on a farm in a region
with which they are not acquainted. Large tracts of land
classed as Sands and Peat (undifferentiated) recently sold for
$6 per acre. Land of the same nature, in small tracts and on
long time payments, frequently sells at a price considerably
higher than this figure. Land in the sandy portion of the county
is frequently exchanged in small tracts for city property, and the
value placed upon the land in such an exchange is always higher
than the cash value. The types of soil which consist of deep sand
have a low agricultural value, and require very careful manage-
* Extract from Circular 48 of the Agricultural Experiment Station
of the University of Wisconsin. This publication should be con-
sulted for more information on "How to Rid Our Farms of Weeds."
GENERAL AGRICULTURE OF JUNEAU COUNTY. gl
ment to make farmi-ng successful. The sandy types underlain
by clay have a higher agricultural value than the deep sand and
sell at prices ranging from $20 to $50 per acre, and sometimes
more. The silt loam soils have the highest agricultural value of
any soils in the county, and the selling price ranges from $25 to
over $75 per acre, depending upon the location, topography, im-
provements, and the amount of waste land included in the farms.
Some of the best farms in the county have a value of over $100
per acre.
Most of the soils of the county, and especially the sandy types,
are deficient in organic matter, and the system of farming fol-
lowed on any farm should be so arranged as to gradually increase
the humus content of the soil. This may be accomplished by ap-
plying stable manure, supplemented by the plowing under of
legumes. Where Peat beds are convenient to the farm Peat may
be spread upon the surface and plowed under. This will supply
nitrogen, but should be supplemented by commercial fertilizers
to provide the mineral requirements of the soil. On the sand
types very careful methods of farm management must be prac-
ticed if the fertility of the soils is to be increased and farming
operations made profitable. Careful rotations should be worked
out to suit the varying conditions. Many of the soils of the
county are in an acid condition, and this must be corrected be-
fore the best results with clover or alfalfa can be expected.
Ground limestone is the best form in which to apply lime, and
its effect will be seen in the soil for a long time. There are cer-
tain legumes including cow peas, lupines, and serradella which
usually do well on acid soils, and where it is very expensive to
secure some form of lime for correcting the acidity some of these
acid-resisting legumes should be grown to supply the nitrogen
for the soil.
Erosion in the hilly country and the conserving of moisture in
all parts of the county are very important questions and should
be given careful study by all farmers. More specific suggestions
will be found in connection with the discussion of the various
soil types.
The dairy industry could be profitably extended and more
6 S. S. J. C.
g2 SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAV COUNTY.
creameries and cheese factories established. Hog raising in
connection with dairying could also be developed on a larger
scale. The trucking industry should be carried on to a greater
extent, especially along the railroad lines, where excellent trans-
portation facilities are afforded. Various crops for canning,
such as peas, tomatoes, etc., could be successfully grown on a
commercial scale.
CLIMATE. 33
CHAPTER VIII.
CLIMATE.*
' l Among the factors which influence the agriculture of a state,
none is more important than the climate. The class of crops
which can be grown is largely determined by the length of the
growing season, and the amount and distribution of the rain-
fall. ' ' Any one of these factors may determine the type of agri-
culture which can be practiced to best advantage.
"The distribution of rainfall over Wisconsin is remarkably
uniform, the average yearly precipitation having a range of
from 28 to 34 inches, while the mean for the State as a whole is
31 inches. Thi-s is a slightly heavier rainfall than is received by
eastern England, northern France, most of Germany and Sweden,
and the Dundee Valley. As compared with other portions of this
country, Wisconsin has a total rainfall equaling that of central
Oklahoma and Kansas, northern Iowa, Michigan, northwestern
New York, or the Puget Sound Basin of Washington. But owing
to its northerly location, the lessened evaporation probably makes
the precipitation as effective as that of Arkansas, Illinois, or Vir-
ginia. "
' ' The local distribution of rainfall varies, however, from year
to year, some sections receiving more rainfall one year and other
sections more in other years. The variation is caused by the
movement of cyclonic storms. ' ' . The average rainfall for the en-
tire state during the driest year was 2L4 inches, and for the
wettest year 37 inches.
"Of equal importance, in agriculture, to the total rainfall is
its seasonal distribution, and in this respect Wisconsin is un-
*This chapter has been based upon, and the quotations indicated
have been taken from, Wisconsin Bulletin 223, on "The Climate of
Wisconsin and Its Relation to Agriculture". This bulletin should
be consulted for more information on the subject.
84 - SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.
usually fortunate, since about half of the total rainfall comes in
May, June, July, and August, and nearly 70 per cent from
April to September, inclusive. June has the heaviest rainfall,
averaging 4.1 inches, while July averages 4 inches and May 3.9
inches. The precipitation during the winter, on the other hand
is slight ; December, January and February each averaging from
1 to 1.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The average rainfall
for the State during the winter is 3.9 inches, during spring 8.3
inches, during summer 11.4 inches, and during autumn 7.4 in-
ches. Most of the rainfall occurs just preceding and during
the period of plant growth, thus being received by the crop at
the most effective time. Wisconsin received during the growing
season, April to September, inclusive, an average of 21 inches,
which is as much rain as is received during the same months by
eastern Texas, Illinois, Ohio, or eastern New York. The small
winter precipitation in Wisconsin, mostly in the form of snow,
on the other hand, causes virtually no leaching of fertility from
the soil, or erosion."
Another form of rainfall distribution of great importance is
its variation within a period of a few weeks. Frequently per-
iods of drought and periods of unusually heavy rainfall occur,
continuing for from one to four weeks, and occasionally longer.
Observations taken at Madison over a period of 30 years, from
1882 to 1911, inclusive, show that there are, on the average, three
ten-day periods during each growing season when the amount of
rainfall is so slight that crops on a reasonably heavy soil (Miami
silt loam) actually suffer from lack of moisture. In southern and
southwestern Juneau County about the same conditions would
prevail. In the sandy portions of the county, however, the per-
iods of drought will average longer, and may be more frequent on
account of the light character of the soil.
The low sandy and marshy portions of Juneau County are
located within ' ' The Wisconsin River Basin ' ', which is one of
eight climatic provinces in Wisconsin. ' ' This region appears to
be cooler than the Mississippi Valley to the west, or the Michigan
shore to the east, being cooler (68) than the former (70) in
summer, and cooler (16) than the latter (21) in winter. This
region averages about thirteen days in winter when the tempera-
CLIMATE. 35
1ni re drops lower than 10 below zero, and 13 days in summer
when the thermometer rises above 90. The growing season is
also considerably shorter, owing probably to the altitude, the
sandy soil, and the marshy condition of much of the land, Maus-
ton having an average season of 130 days from frost to frost, as
compared with 163 days at La Crosse to the west, and 149 at
Oshkosh, or 167 at Sheboygan to the east. Likewise, Stevens
Point, which is on the Wisconsin River in the county north of
Juneau, has an average growing season of 126 days, which is 33
days less than Green Bay and 35 days less than Wabasha or Red
Wing in the Mississippi Valley. ' '
"This short growing season, as well as the sandy soil, aids in
explaining the small amount of corn raised in this region, and
the more extensive development of the potato industry. The
rainfall is practically the same as the average for the State, and
it has a seasonal distribution similar to that for the whole State."
The hilly section which is confined to the southern and south-
western portions of the county, lies within ' ' The Southern High-
lands" climatic province. This region has an elevation gen-
erally over 1,000 feet above sea level and includes the greater
part of the hilly, driftless area of the State. This higher land
within the area surveyed has a slightly longer growing season
free from frost than the low sandy and marshy tracts, but data
showing the exact differences within the county could not be
obtained. The small valleys within the elevated portion of the
county are in greater danger from frosts than the higher land.
By reference to figures and , it will be observed that the
average date of the last killing frost in the spring in the region
including Juneau County is from May 10 to 20 in the southern
part, and from May 20 to June 1 in the low sandy and marshy
portions of the county. The average date of the first killing
frost in the fall in the same region is from September 20 to 30 in
the southern part, and from September 10 to 20 in the low sandy
and marshy portions of the survey. From the data on these
two maps the approximate length of the growing season for any
part of the State can be readily determined.
The climatic conditions prevailing in Juneau County are some-
what variable, owing to the differences in topography. The
86
SOIL SURVEY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.
CLIMATE. 87
northern two-thirds of the area consists of extensive marshes and
sand flats, while the southern third is a rough, broken country,
with an average elevation of over 200 feet above the level of the
lowlands. The most pronounced variations resulting from dif-
ferences in topography are in connection with the occurrence of
frosts. The only Weather Bureau station in the county is lo-