Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1854-08-30
SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, AND CLIMATE OF
NEBRASKA.


SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, AND cLIMATE OF
NEBRASKA.
The soil OF Nebraska is remarkably rich;
being composed Of greymarl, carbonate Of lime,
fine yellow clay, iutermived with a small por-
tion Of exceeding fine white sand, which,
combined with The al love elements, forms a
quick, light and Iich s0ili peculiar TO the inn
mense diluvial depositcs in this country. The
soil is remarkably uniform in IFS quality and
appearance. Thousands Of acres in q single
body may be plowed over, and no one osrld
detect the slightest difference between the
TurrDws, except the most careful observer.
The only difereNcc disccrHabIc in the COM
position Of the soil consists in what arises
from the action of Tie rains and wind, carry
ing a portion Of The dark soil from the higher
80 the lower portions Of our undulating lands.
These influences, though slow in their opera
tion, are gradually and continually e],cyating
he-surroundiug depressions, and changing tie
whole face q the country.
The bottom land comprising the interval
between the rivers and the bluffs, differs IN
some respects from tle higher portions already
described. The bottoms are an a|lluyial de-
pos.tc-having a larger aImixturc Of sand
clay, sad carbonate Of lime. These lands
are remarkably productive, and adapted either
10 a wet or dry season The soil being rich,
4ight and porus, absorbs a large amount Of
water in short time, so that crops arc rarely
Fver injured by standing water. Only a short
time is needed after a rain to dry the ground
sufficient 10 work with the pillow or hoe. in
case OF drouth, the porosity Of the soil IA
c~ilitates the return Of the moisture 70 the
surface, through the force Of capillary at
traction, induced by the action Of the drouth
upon the surface. We think we can safely
assert, that no couutry exceeds this in IFS ca
pacity TO endure a severe drouth a~nharucd,
or that would suffer less by an excess Of rain.
ThesoIl Of this UCUntry possesses every requi-
site quaityf for the production Of every class Of
farm and garden product. We believe, in fact
we know, that wheat, rye, corn, barley, oats,
beans, peas, fax, hemp, potatoes, tlrnips,
pumpkins, squashes and melons, yield an nbun-
dant return tor the labor bestowed upon them.
We are satisfied that the same amount Of labor
devoted 10 the production Of any Of the above
articles, would produce as great a crop, and
of as good a quality as csa be produced in any
other part Of North America We have rails
ed beets in or garden without taEiEg any
extraordinary pains with them, that weighed
upwards Of eight pounds, turnips likewise,
weighing an equal amount. Carrots and
Varsnips attain a gigantic growihj a good sized
carrot should be four inches in diameter at the
top, and twenty inches in length; parsuips fire.
quenIy grow to the eforn0u length Of thirty
five inches. Other garden vegetables grow in
about the same proportion. We have RAISED
squasLes which put our strength ~ a pretty
severe test to lift high enough to put into 4
sYa-son. Watermelons Of superior quality, /
weighing from thirty 20 forty pounds are not
All kinds Of MELONS attain great
perfection ard size, when properly cared for.
Corn yields upon an average, fifty bushels 10
The acre, without using the hoe at ALL when
well hood and attended TO, seveHty-fye bushels
10 the acre is not more than a common yield.
In respect to the climate Of Nebraska, there
is much to admire, ana little 10 fear. Each
season Of The year has its peculiar charms
its smiles, and its fowus, With the exception
of a small portion Of each season, the climate
is pleasant, mild, and health-inspiring, and
during a considerable portion Of each season,
truly delightful. The winter season is char
aeterized by its dryness, and a scarcity Of
tnoE, rains are quite duriag this
season, and snow sufficient 10 make sieighing
equally so. We moved into this country nearly
seven years ago, and according 10 our recol-
lection, there has not been good sleighiug
enough during the last seven years, to amount
10 three months in all; some seasons would not
afford snow sufficient 10 admit Of the use Of
the sleigh more than -four or five days IN course
Of The season. The greatest quantity Of snow
fell during the winter Of 1910, which was
sufficient to make tolerabie good sleighing for
two weeks in successi6uj wagons are IN gem
eraI use during the whole winter season, sleighs
and sleds, are exceptions 10 the general rule.
The mercury takes a wide range, FROM 10 de-
groes above, down to p degrees below zeros
a goodly portion Of the winter il mild aud
comfortable, and not a few days vie with
those Of autum in their mildncss and beauty.
u has never been our fortune 10 speLd q vim
ter in a place where the climate was 80 genial
and beautiful.
Winter silently Yields to the gentle reign Of
spring, whose sunshine aud showers dissolve
the winters frost, and restore the beautiful
yerIure Of which the earth for brief season
has been disrobedby the icy reign Of winter.
The grass usaIly begins TO make its appear
ance about The FIRST Of April, aaa gets 10 be
goodfeed BY the middle Of the month. The
ground is. usually Ct for blowing By the mid
Dir Of April Spring wheat Is soNn about
that timc planted during he whole
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