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HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY
   Peat and Muck consist of decaying vegetable matter with which there is
in-
corporated varying amounts of fine earthy material. These soils require drainage
before they can be farmed. They are deficient in potash and phosphorous,
and
these elements must be supplied before profitable crops can be produced over
a
period of years. The supply of nitrogen is abundant. These types require
treat-
ment different from the upland soils. Peat occurs extensively in the south
and
southwestern parts of the county, and through the central and northern parts
in
numerous isolated areas. Much of it is now artificially drained. Cranberries
are
extensively cultivated, and a profit is derived from wire-grass which is
sold to
grass-matting companies, and sphagnum moss, which is shipped in considerable
quantities to the florists in the cities.
   The types of Sands and Peat (undifferentiated) consists of marshland in
which
low, flats and islands are numerous though of such small extent. All the
included
marshy land required drainage and careful management to make cultivation
profitable. The marshy soil is deficient in phosphorus and potash but well
sup-
plied with nitrogen. The soil on the islands is usually low in all these
elements.
   Climate.-The climatic conditions in Wood County are fairly uniform, but
vary somewhat from place to place with difference in topography. The winters
are long and severe but the summers are pleasant. The most pronounced varia-
tions in climate are in the occurrence of frosts. The relative liability
to frost is
of vital importance to the cranberry industry, which is quite extensively
developed
in the marshy region in the southern and southwestern parts of the county.
   The winters in Wood County are long and severe, but the summers are pleasant.
The rainfall is normally well distributed throughout the growing season.
The
months of May, June, July and August each have on an average approximately
three inches of rain, but in any of these months, especially July and August,
there
may be periods during which crops suffer considerably from drought.
   The average date of the last killing frost in the spring, as recorded
at Wisconsin
Rapids is May 23, and that of the first in the fall is September 26. This
gives an
average growing season for the vicinity of the station of approximately 126
days.
In the marshy region to the west and southwest the period free from frost
is shorter,
and summer frosts are not uncommon in the cranberry-growing districts.
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