Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-12-18
NATIVE GRASSES.
Something About the Wonderfully NJ.
tritive Grasses of the Dakotas.

tFiIIVe 1raS0e6 OF the Oakota9t
Western Progress: Stock raising
was one of the first peaceful indus
tries engaged in by the human race,
and to-day in the leading nations of
the world this industry surpasses all
others in Importance. The great graz
Ing regions of the world are parts of
Russia, South America. Australia, and
the great plains and mountain slopes
of the United States. These countries
furnish the worlds great pasture
lands and the bulk Of the worlds beef.
The cattle, horses and sheep of the
United States number over 100000, 900,
valued at $1,8z9, O00, 900. The enormous
capital these represent is absolutely
dependent upon the greatest of our nat
ural resources, our grasses and forage
plants
These annually sustain industries
valued at nearly $4,000, 100000, indus
tries upon which the very existence Of
the human race is dependent. OF the
great range country Of the Northwest,
the two Dakotas form q most import
ant part, and one who is not thorough
ly familiar with the live stock industry
in those states cannot appreciate the
value Of the enormous quantity Of ma
tive grass that covers the prairies of
those states, grasses that for fat-pro-
ducing qualities are unsurpassed any,
where in the world.
The total number of different species
of grasses known to botanists is more
than 5000; these, as everyone knows,
vary according to the soil and climate,
as they do, also, in different attitudes
and ATTITUDES. This number is small,
however, compared to the number
found growing in some of the Eastern
states; but in no section of the coun-
try are there to be found greater
number of nutritious grasses than in
the Dakotas. The prairie hay crop OF
those states is a voluntary contribution
of wealth by nature almost equal in
value to the cultivated farm products.
There never has been in the history
of these two states, complete disap.
pointment of the annual profits to the
farmer and stock grower derived from
this crop, although the growth may be
much heavier some seasons than 9TH
ers
The most valuable grasses for graz
ing purposes to be found in this part OF
the state are what are most common
ly known as buffalo, wheat, blue-stem
and bunch grass.
The ranchmen throughout the range
country of the Northwest apply the
term bunch grass" to variety of
grasses characterized by their habit OF
growth, just as they use the term
"gramma" in the Southwest. The
wheat grasses include number OF
these so-called bunch grasses, the chief
of which is the wire bunch grass,
which is especially abundant in billy
sections. The wheat grass, sometimes
called alkali grass, is the particular
species most sought for hay. 1t at
tains usually, height OF ten to TWEEN
ty inches, and is a solid stem grass
that cures perfectly making excellent
winter feed.
The best-known and most abundant
of all grasses that grow on the great
Northwestern range are the buffalo
grass (bulbilis dactyloides) and wheat
grass (agropyron divergens.) The Gil
matte conditions of the Northwestern
range seem to be most favorable to-
ward the production of these two
grasses, which cure naturally upon the
ground, and are just as nutritious IN
January as in June. The pralrles OF
, the two Dakotas are covered with a
luxuriant growth of these grasses,
which are equal Tor grazing and hay to
the tame varieties of the East.
AS before stated, these grasses will
cure to hay upon the ground, and stock
will fatten upon the prairies almost as
rapidly as they do in the East feeding
on grain. The grass will retain its
richness Throughout the year, even
were it uncut, and, it may be added,
that in many parts of the two Dako-
tas stock is kept through the winter
solely by pasturing on the prairies.
Farmers in Northern Illinois have
been heavy buyers of Dakota baled
hay during the past year or two, and
great deal of surprise has been occa-
stoned by the voracity displayed by the
stock in consuming this product. 1t is
said that cattle will leave clover and
tame hay for it, and if an unopened
bale were thrown out where the COWS
could get at it, they would leave the
loose hay and try to tear open the pale.
AS animals instinctively select the
most nutritive foods when they have
access to several varieties, the reader
can understand to some extent why
cattle fatten so rapidly Oh our Dakota
range.
It is not at all an exaggeration to say
that millions of tons of this native for
age grow, and cure and go to waste
each year, uncut and unfed, and that II
all this grass that covers the Dakota
prairies were utilized and turned into
beef, it would supply the markets OF
the world
Judging from the great influx of set
tiers to North and South Dakota dur
ing the past two years, we may pre-
dict that the time will not be ia: OH
when not an acre of these grasses will
be allowed to go to waste; and as
soon as that time comes, it viii mean
that many millions of dollars will be
added each year to the profits of the
live stock industry in the two Dakotas.