The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-02-23
NELSON COUNTY,. OAK.

Ed. DEMocRAT:-There is section
of the Devils Lake Region in North
| Dakota of which, though its settlement
bepan four years ago, yet less is known
of the advantages it offers to the in
tending settler than any other portion
of the lake country. This district in
cludes within its boundaries all OF n elc
son county, and short description OF
the advantages it offers l trust may
find place in your columns.
LoCATIoN-N elson county Is Wnolll
comprised within the boundaries OF
thatextensiye highland, which stretches
-a broad expanse of arabic land almost
uubroken from the western rim OF the
Red River Valley to the Missouri river
Il belongs TO the second tier OIL
counties west of the Red River and has
| Grand Forks county on the East,
Grigps county on the South, Ramsey
county on the West and unorganlZea
territory on the North. The average
ele alton above sea level is probably
not less than 1900 feet, and 5OO feet
higher than the general eleyatlon, OF
the valley, the western rim OF which ls
Is miles from it's east line. The sur
face of the entire county is undulatlng
nut never too much so to make 1t i'm
possible to run the plow. Parallel
ranges of low rounded hills OF swells
cover the county with wide sm9 tn
valleys between their crests' IheSe
valleys are covered with growth oi
luxuriant natural grasses furnishing
the best of hay or occasionally holdlnit
+. beautiful lake set like a gem on thC
prairie. There are many coohes oil
drains. but the only large stream is the
Cbeyenne river, which waters the south
western portion of the county, aH
which with its somewhat broken sur
face and heavy belts of oak, ash, ana
Elm timber offers the best of natura
advantages to the stock raiser, Be
sides the many smaller lakes scattered
yer the surface of the country and
yarying in size from 10 to $40 acres,
large one, Stump Lake, in the western!
,ortion present many interesting tea,
lures, among which may be mentioned
its peculiar shape, which much resem-
oles the letter S with the curves more
acute.
SOIL, ETo.-The soil throughout the
county is generally excellent and CON
slsls of black sandy loan varying
II ON eight inches in depth on the
h CHER knobs to Is to 20 inches in Ire
valleys and lower grounds, though We
otten the best soils are found on the
higher lying land The subsoil is clay
JfIen mixed with small nodules OF
nroken limestone. Frequently on the
hirher lands there is found a asubstratum
waterworn gravel In addition
few large float limestone or sandstone
uoulderS are found on the surface, but
never in sufficient quantities to inter
fere in the least with cultivation. IN
fact they are an advantage, as gathered
up they serve admirably for Walllng
wells and building purposes.
TIE soil contains just enough sand to
luaKe the ground work very easily, as
It does especially after the sod has
rocted, but not enough to give it an
essentially sandy character, Ihls soil
is capable of taking care Oi as much
water as any in existence and YET Is so
retentive of moisture that 1t produces
fair crops without an unappreclabie
amount of rain during the entire time
Of growth.
GRASSES.
The natural grasses are present III
great variety with large percentage
of the curly and nutritious Buffalo grass
and wild oats. both infallible signs OF
high fertility. In the low lowing mead
ows and following the coolies grows
natural red top, often three feet III
length, and yielding three to four tons
per acre. In addition to these are
many varieties OF lengthy growth pro
ducing wild hay i'll great abundance
and OF the best quality. These natural
meadows are distributed over tie face
Of the country in Just the proper pro
portion for the needs of the farmer:
nearly every quarter section having lo
TO % acres of meadow land. Grass Ue-
comes green in May and grazing lasts
until the first SHOWS OF mid-NUyembti
carpet land with white. The soil,
Il oagh covered with dense mat Ut
grass, as compared with the heavier
ands of the Red River Valley, is some
what less difficult to break; thee
horses furnishing ample power for III
inch breaking plOw. The process OF
decay in the sod, the result OF
the cool dry climate, is much less
rapid than in the warm, moist
C Inmates of the South and East,
remains of the original sod often tX
isting the fourth or fifth year aftel
breaking. With each succeeding year
as the tough roots decay, cultivation
becomes easier, until the soil is a mass
of friaLle mellow loam in the best NE
chanical condition to produce all I'll,
small grain crops to perfection.
SEASON FOR FARMING.
The farming season opens with the
beginning of April, and AS the SNOW
gradually disappears before the in
'reasing warmth the work of seeding
begins. Preparatory to the running OF
the broadcast seeder, which takes the
place of the grain drill used i'll the East
Inc ground is stirred with a four-horse
- >. E..,. IL.