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Excerpt from Soil Survey of Dekalb County, Missouri, 1916 The Grundy silt loam occupies the at to very gently rolling land locally known as prairie. Throughout its extent the type has a nearly level to slightly undulating topography. The slope generally is sufficient to give adequate natural drainage. Artificial drainage, however, would no doubt prove beneficial in a few small areas, as at the heads of shallow draws, where crops are sometimes injured in excessively wet seasons. The type is more backward in the spring than the Shelby loam. The largest bodies of the Grundy silt loam occur in the southern part of the county in the Vicinity of Osborn and to the northwest of this place around Amity. Smaller areas are encountered on the high interstream divides. The original vegetation consisted Of wild prairie grasses. All the type is in cultivation. Corn, grass, oats, wheat, and clover are the important crops, ranking in the order named. The Grundy silt loam is an excellent grass and small-grain soil. For timothy and redtop it is superior to the Shelby loam, although bluegrass does better on the latter type. In recent years the acreage Of wheat has greatly increased, and excellent results have been Obtained. Although many farmers state that the Grundy silt loam is not SO good a soil as the Shelby loam, the improvements on it indicate a degree Of pros perity not equaled on any Of the other soil types in the county. On account of the heavy subsoil, the type is only fairly well suited to the production of alfalfa. As a fruit soil it is about equal to the Shelby loam. The high value Of the Grundy silt loam for the production Of corn, primarily, and of oats and hay in proper rotation with corn, has led to the use of almost all the type for the production Of general farm crops.' The returns from this system Of general farming have been SO satisfactory that the introduction of any special crops upon the type has not been undertaken. About the Publisher Forgot