The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08
xU Ho11HwEsrwARD cur.
RENT.

As the current of immigration from
the southeast continues llitherward and
beyond lis to the plains of the fur north.
west, the lower Red River Valley is be-
ing left gradually nearer to the heart of
this great, newly-developed region.
Pembina county was once looked
upon as an o,t-of-the-way place,
but it Is fast losing its remoteness.
and at day not very far distant
twill he found centrally located in the
great Northwestern belt between Chi.
cago and the Rocky mountains. The
star of empire is moving in that d;;.was
ton The great agrien'ex wheat lands by
the so"tl'w1D, Is. Park, of Scotland,
n"eIio is largely Interested in wheat
raising in Dakota, and is the gen.
tlcman who made tile direct shipment
the past season of q large quantity of
No. l hard to Scotland, that the con.
sumers thele might know just what
Dakota No. hard is like, which ship
ment has been before referred to in the
columns of The Argus.
She soil was carefully excavated, and
took earth for thirty inches from the
surface downward, much pains being
taken to prevent any disturbance of or
mixing of that found at the various
depths. 1t was packed in such man.
ner that it is evident from the chemists
report that it was not mixed during
transit.
DIR. Aitkin is the professional analyst
of the above named corn exchange, aud it
is his principal part to examine and re-
portion soils, artificial manures, etc. to de-
termiue their value rs grain producers.
5t IL said that no man stands higher in
CHS scientific profession, or is better
able to determine the analytical value
of soil or its adaptability Tor any par
ticular crop than the doctor.
II is evident from, the report which
the Argus publishes below that the spec.
ime,; wac taken from the lightest soil of
the western part of Cass county, instead
of the extremely heavy land OF the east
ern part. The chemist fGdsa large pro-
portion wl.at is classed as sand 10y pro.
fcssional men, bnt which is very different
from the fine. slassylikc substance
doctor says: "Tlese results show the
regular graduation from the SURFACE
downward IF the various constituents
aue.', as is possible only in soils OF uni
form texture" And further, "tat tho
gradual liminution of moisture indi-
Gates pre-pOrous subsoi., so pcrmea-
bile to water ~ to require no artificial
drainage, and the very slow decline of
organic matter to the depth of thirty
inches shows that the roots 81 plant,
Iaye no difficulty in penetrating to that
depth"
He also experimental with the power
81 ike soil to retain moisture. and found
it was very great and dill mot diminish
much ne the depth increased:" thus ats
capacity OF retaining moisture IL siisll
ms TO provide large supply of moisture
for the use of crops Gcring dry season,
if the texture of the soil ID such as to
permit of the moisture rising caS;ly."
Experiments We're tried on this point
and it was found that ~ the upper ten
lnches water wonl,l rise ut the rate of
.seTenteel inches in single day, and in
the other parts 1f the soil even more
rapidly by the action Of capillary at-
traction.
The important constituents for the
NUTRITION of crops were found through
chemical analysis and "sllows that in its
present state the soil is in excellent
condition for cultivation" and that ut
is the most attractive soil that l have
ever had submitted to TAG for analysis"
II should expect that the ssil would be
found 10 he first class agricultural
subject, aud fine wheat soil" are lhe |
remarks witt. which the analyst closes |
His report
Here is the detailed an.lssis as fur
nisLed The Argus by Mr.. Dunlop.
analysis OF DAKOTA SOIL. {
The sample of soil was received in o 4
box thirty inches long, and it was evil
dent. Oh opening the box, that the sec
tion of soil had remained entire aud !
suffered no Disturbance IN transit.
The appearance Of tie section, and
the disposal of the roots throughout,
showed thai it was q sample of soil
taken in section, from the surface down 4
ward to the depth Of dirty inches.
There was no sharp line of demarcation
between soil and snbsoil. but gradual
change, caused by the general diminu-
aa6n of organic matter aud vegetable |
rearS;ns from the surface downward !
The t4,pains of rootlets were numerous
at the iSsttlom of the sample, and it had
the charaets, Of deep soil, and not
that Of a soil ana svbsoil, such Us is
present iu sections OF ordinary cult
waited land.
In order to gain as much informatie.,
es possible Regarding the agricultural
quaiitv and value OF Che soil, I divided
tine sample into three equal portions Of
ten inches each, and investigated and
anaiyzed these separately.
in appearance the soil is dark colored,
fine ~ texture, soft and frinble, and
what might lAa called light sendy
loan. deep and porous, and suitable f6t
the growfl, OF wheat ana deep roofing
a,iants.
il is all earth and no stones, ana tls:e
earth is very unifofna in fnepess
throughout, and leaves nothing to he
desired as 6ne, free easily worked az.
ricultural subject.
The constituent ii the soil in the
three sections, from above downward,
are Us follows:
Upper Middle Lower
See. Sec. Sec.
Sand. Observation-Disclosures. 12M 500 S.13
Clay .................... iii 2.11 2.S2
Moisture. ............... AS; SLY Cos
Organic Matter. ....... 30 1tS Y:2
Soluble salts ............ U67 Ok G12
lnselublc salts, etc 1000. LIB LBS 26:'