Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1882-09-01

L LA-AAvA---A-D-A->A-S A-Av.----D-L->-S - ~ oAs
It is speculative scheme, and will soon ex;
plode.
Burleish County's Soil and surface
The following interesting article is
taken from the Banner City, which was
issued Yesterday.
It is difficult. if not acquainted with
the character of the soil ana the surface
of the country in ''le region drained by
the Missouri and IS tributaries, known
as the Missouri slope, 10 comprehend the
value of our urdeveloped resources,
Mines of gold, silver or iron bear no COM
parison to the wealth that is here within
the reach of all.
No man ever saw better crops in any
country or at any time than those to be
found in this region. No climate is bet
ter, healthier or more enjoyable than
this. -. *
The excellence of soil. and atmosphere
is seen in ouy vigorous manhood, in the
eve and tread of our animals, and in the
excellence of our grain and vegetables,
as will appear, SO far as the productions
of the soil are concerned, at the exhibit of
Burleigh county to be made at the CON-
ing fair at Minneapolis. ....5
The country is undulating prairie, with
here and there broad plateaus, frequently
a whole township in extent, and numer-
Gus valleys There are vast extents of
table lands, often 200 feet above the river
and on these will be found soil and
grasses far superior to that on the river,
bottoms, and equal to the best in the val
leys. On the rims of these plateaus,
where rested during the glacial period
large bodies of ice bearing burdens gath
cred from the broken mountain ranges, a
deposit of granite boulders is sometimes
found. The lime rocks deposited at the
same time have become disintegrated and
lie here and there in gravel beds or de-
composed and teaching into the subsoi],
give our beds of marly clay. These
gravel beds serve to show those who will
read the testimony Of the rocks the
wealth of soil surrounding us. a.. @. l.
Northwest of Bismarck, from whence
come the glaciers bringing with them
these boulders, and the drift lying upon
the deposit of clay underneath, there was
deposit of lime. over five
hundred feet in depth as shown
by the lime cliffs still standing, aud beds
of gypsum frequently reaching depth
Of s seventy feet. There were heavy
tropical forests and growth Of vegeta-
tatlon unknown in later years from which
our coal beds were formed. These were
broken down, crushed and intermingled,
and carried along by the rushing waters
giving us in soil the richest and strongest
elements known in agriculture. That
portion of this mixed mass principally
vegetable, being lighter than the broken
rocks, remained on the surface and gave
US our rich black soil to which has been
added the accumulation of decayed vege-
tation for ages. The lime settled and
gave to our subsoil it's mariy character.
The black soil. of which we speak,
lighter in color than that of the Red river
valley only because of the lime contained
in it, is from eighteen inches to three
feet in depth. In some instances, where
there are pockets sometimes of hundreds
of acres in extent, it is five feet or more
in depth. Underlying this is marly
subsoil: generally of clay, but not unfre-
quently lime gravel predominating, of
two or three feet in depth.
The black soil will average over eigh-
teen inches in depth throughout the en-
tire country. The surface OF the country
being rolling the drainage is perfeca, and
the character of the subsoil is such that
the land Will stand drouth or rainfall that
in other countries would be regarded ex-
cessive.
Glover is valuable in farming, not so
much for its fertilizing qualities, but
because its great tap roots reach
! down and draw moisture and wealth
from the bosom of mother earth.
because when plowed under, its heavy
stems give the air chance to enter and
wealth and moisture is drawn from the
atmosphere Il loosens up the surface
and makes the soil available. See what
heavy growth Of grass there is along the
roadwaysor where the gophers have brok-
en- the surface of the prairie. Air, water,
| light and heat-have been given chance
to perform the work assigned them by
natures God. 49, ----
Take a bushel OF. dust. gathered from a
travelled road; heat it, if you please, until
every particle of moisture is evaporated.
| Turn it out in bulk on the hard street and
| it will gather moisture from the air as the
pitcher of cold water gathers it on its out
ward surface and will be quite damp after
a few hours. A soil like this does not
suffer from an excess or lack of rainfall,
while on that where the clay or hard pan
comes within a few inches Of the surface
the roots of the crop are. scalded by the
overplus of water heated by the summer
sun or withered through a lack OF mois-
ture Troubles OF this sort can never be
experienced in Burleigh county. 1t is
only necessary to tickle the surface with
hoe or plow when mother earth will laugh
and give to her industrious sons her
oh oioaet hlosSinuc -. -