, 1892-02-27
CROP TOPICS.
An Interesting Article by Prof.
Dice Mclaren.
Varieties Which Grow Best in Lar,
annie County.
Some SpecuIations on the Subject
of Live Stock.

FROM duVauce sueeIS lurnlsueu ny ITOI.
Dice McLaren the appended extracts of
interest to ranchmen and Rrangers arc
taken: The agricultural portions of
Eastern Wyoming vary from 1000 to
5000 feet above sea level. This part of
the state Is represented by the Wheatland
experiment farm. The capable superin-
tendent. Martin R. johnson, has assisted
In writing this article. The portion of
Wyoming here described comprises Lara
ME. and Converse counties The general
surface is a rolling prairie, i~nterspersed
with river and creek valleys, with extern
sive level divides between. 1t is a contin-
uatiou of the Great plains country OF
Western Nebraska and Kansas, with
many of its characteristics. To the west
is the Laramie range. the first great foot
hills of the Rocky mountains. To the
northeast the land rises toward the Black
hills. Between these elevations the North
Platte river flows southeast through the
middle OF this region, receiving, near the
center, the Laramie river, which waters
the Laramie plains to the west and above
the Laramie range.
The climate is temperate and h~ealthful.
Tie average summer temperature is
about co. Farenheit. The annual rainfall
is about fourteen inches. The spring
rains are sufficient to start all crops, but
summer irrigation is necessary. The
nights are cool, with frosts till the
middle of May. but the summer is
warm. Killing frosts occur about
Oct. l. The soil is very fertile. Red
and black sandy Loans predominant.
Pine trees are found on the summit of
the Laramie range, quaking aspen and
cedar lower down, and narrow-leaved cot
tonwood, box elder and broad leaved cot
tonwood along the prairie streams. The
p~rairies are covered with nutritious blue
stem, grama. buffalo and bunch grasses.
This region Is a famous grazing country,
being well watered by the never-failing
streams which rise In the many springs
o" the Laramie range. The warm, long
summer renders it an excellent agricultural
region.
Experiments tried on the Wheatland
experiment farm in 1891, and to
circular letters sent to farmers and ranch
men of Laramie and Converse counties.
are the basis for recommending the fol-
lowing varieties of farm crops and breeds
- .e.I- -, olo.toJ - Eo,to.. NN,n--,
The ruby, the white Russian aud the
italian varieties of spring wheat have
proved successful. Plant in April, or
earlier, if the ground can be prepared. A.
A. Spaugh of Manville raises the Italian
spring wheat. The Fultz and Slosson
winter wheats have proved best. Plant
In August or September, and best in
drills, which shelter the young plants
from the. dry winter winds. The usual
yield of wheat is from twenty to forty
bushels per acre. Salter's spring rye and
German winter rye do well, the latter
furnishing good fall pasture. Oats yield
especially well. the white Russian, white
Swedish and American wonder being pre-,
ferred. Colin Maclougall of Bordeaux,
prefers the Name oats, planting in April.
Oats planted late in the fall remain dry in
the ground. ready to be sprouted by the
earliest spring rains. Both four and
six.rowed barley are successful. Okshott's
winter barley is worthy of trial. Both
European and common fax do well. as
would be expected from the lu%xuriance OF
the wild fax. Japanese and silver hull
buckwheat are good varieties. Canada
field peas yield heavy crops of grain. The
white lima aud white navy beans produce
profitable crops.
Field corn mature well, the grain and
fodder being the best faltening food for
stock. The earlier varieties should be
planted, as angel of midnight. early mas
todoD. pride of the north and Whitley
dent. Corn should be planted about the
middle of May. The white and yellow
dent and the white e~nsilage are the best
varieties for corn fodder. Duncan Grant
of 2 has successfully raised Kaffir corn
and Milo maize for fodder. Early amber
sorghum is one of the best plants for
fodder. German millet is a deservedIy
popular forage plant in this region.
The best tame grasses for hay are al
falfa, timothy and red top. Alfalfa does
well sown with oats In April. The oats
yield a good crop and the stubble protects
the Young clover during the winter. After
the first year three crops may be cut each
season, making the annual yield from six
to nine tons of nutritious hay. W. +.
MacFarlane OF Glendo. finds that tim
othy does we'll planted on sod in April.
Red top is reported as succeeding when
treated In this manner.
The best wild grasses for hay are blue
stem and grama well irrigated. The
best tame grasses for pasture are red
clover and alfalfa. The best wild grasses
for pasture are the Rrama, blue stem and
buffalo.
Among the root crops which can be