The soil of this township is diversified. Near the streams it is a reddish, gravely loam, very deep, well adapted to mixed agriculture, such as wheat, rye, oats and corn, as well as root crops. After leaving the stream on the east, the soil, on the more elevated lands, partakes of a light colored clay, with a small admixture of gravel, better adapted for grass and grazing purposes. But the greater portion is a black loam, and when once thoroughly drained, is well calculated to grow any and all of the agricultural products adapted to this climate. The western portion of this township, or, more properly speaking, the prairie lands, are composed of a deep, black loam, presenting the appearance of having been composed of vegetable decomposition, upon which, in its native state, grew a wonderful growth of vegetation, that for years had been decomposed. either in its native or alkaline state. This latter condition will be referred to in another part of this work.
From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)
The soil of Darby township is of greater variety. Near the streams it is a reddish, gravelly loam, very deep and well adapted to mixed agriculture, such as the production of wheat, rye, oats and corn, as well as root crops. After leaving the streams on the east, the soil, on the more elevated lands, partakes of a light-colored clay, with a small admixture of gravel, better adapted for grass and grazing purposes. But the greater portion is a black loam, and when once thoroughly drained is well calculated to grow any and all of the agricultural products adapted to this climate. The western portion of the township—the prairie land—is composed of a deep, black loam, presenting the appearance of having been composed of vegetable decomposition, upon which, in its native state, grew a wonderful growth of vegetation.