The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-10-14

BLUE GRASS OF THE EAST.
This is great reliance forstock Id win #
ter, and often cut and cured for hay. BE
Another frequent grass is the blue
joint Of Kansas and Nebraska, botanical
" species of audropo ojon. 1t grows
with rather a tall, coarse stock and long
leaves, and although somewhat coarse is
ayaiuable grass and everywhere cut for /
hay. In the bottom lands and in aka
line soils q grass prevails which is called
alkaii5o or salt grass. It often forms ex-sSEE
tensiNe beds, witt the appearance off
Kentucky blue grass. and is eaten by 4
horses and cattle, and is said to be nntri-
tious. There can be no doubt that the q
gramma and buffalo grasses have a very
high nutritious value, but they growso
sparseiy that cattle require an extensive
range in order to obtain proper support.
When we come to inquire as to the num-
Der Of cattle that can be supported on
square mile or on quarter section We
shall realize that There is great poverty
as to the amount Of grass. 535
There is a surprising difference in the
estimates as to the supporting ability Of
the plains Of these States, some stating
that it requires forty or fifty acres to ;
support one animal, others giving tWeI-
ty to thirty, and still others ten to fifteen
acres. All these estimates are correct as {
to certain localities, and over the entire
region it may be considered probable
that the average amount required would
be about fifteen acres to the head. The
inquiry will naturally arise, can not the
grazing capacity of this region be-
greatly increased by substituting more
productive grasses2 s;s5Ss )
The results Of Professor Vasey's inyes-
LEGATIONS on this subject show that this
may undoubtedly be done. So long rs
the old system Of keeping cattle on
ranches Of vast extent, without proyid-
ing winter feed or shelter, continued no
improvement could be expected, for
NO CHANGE CAN BE EFFECTED
without cultivation Of the land. But thes
cattlemen have mostly evacuated Kansas,
and are rapidly removing their herds
from Nebraska to occupy Wyoming and
Montana, and the vacated lands are now
being rapidly occupied for lpmesteads
BY incoming settlers, Notwithstanding
the risks to be ountered from scarcity
Of water and possible dronghts. From
the results Of farming experiments I'M
various sections during few years past
very sanguine expectations are enter
tanned as to the value Of the land for
general farming purposes. Admitting
the possibility OF moderate success in
that line, there can yet be no doubt that
the country is naturally a pastoral one,
and that it can by proper means in the
i future be made to sustain a much great,
er number Of cattle and sheep thanlit
has ii; the past. This will be done by
holders Of limited quantities of land
from q quarter section up 10 q section o.
more, who will provide fodder for their
stock in the winter and give! them suit
liable shelter, and at the Same time break
sIup their land and lay down pastures of
4 new and more productive grasses. What
these grasses shall be Ii vet an open
4 question, and can only be settled By care-
q fully onducted axp periments. II ishigils
Inv desirable that the government should
d establish . central and shafa acteristic
.i 3ncnfion an av at,f l sr,s Il, I'll is,