The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-12-15

buffalo grass that covers 1T sends down
roots only few inches, hence there is
practically no vegetable matter down
below the roots of the buffalo grass.
When such matter is put into the soil,
it's power to hold moisture will be great
ly increased. 1t is my belief that this
ly increased. 1t is my belief that this is
the future management of these soils,
and it is a very practical question, for
such crops as winter rye and cane can
easily be grown for burying in the soil
but experience is necessary to tell just
when, and to what extent to bury them.
The soil is simply excellent over much
of the country. 1t is a volcanic ash
loan, easily worked, and free from
stones. 1t has enough clay to prevent
teaching, and enough sand to make it
friable.
1t is my belief that alfalfa can be
successfully grown even on the higher
land, as soon as the farmers know how
to manage it in the best way. 1 am
also satisfied that Western Rye Grass,
sometimes called Slender Wheat Grass,
can be grown upon the upland, and if
this should prove true the question of
hay apart from the growing of sorghum
and kaffir corn would be solved.
But what of the climate? A few
facts tell great deal about the cdimate
of country. At the branch state ex-
perimental farm at Cheyenne Wells, I'M
der the charge of Mr.. j. B. Robertson,
[ saw peaches growing on several trees.
He also told me that blowing could be
done almost any month of the winter,
so far as cold is concerned. In mid
summer the days are pretty warm, but
the nights are almost invariably COOL
| The air is dry and the climate cannot
but be very healthful. While the aver
age rainfall runs between Is, and, say
Is inches, speaking roughly, the greater
portion falls in the months of April,
May, June and July, when it is most
needed The winters are very dry, pre-
cipitation being almost entirely absent,
which is exceedingly favorable to the
wintering of live stock. 1t is certainly
| a favored region so far as climatic con-
ditions are concerned
While the country is almost absolute
| ly treeless, the experimental station has
| shown that trees may be grown without
irrigating water. Apples, pears, peaches,
apricots, plums, and cherries have been
| grown at this station, also various for
est trees, without irrigation. They have
simply been managed by keeping an
earth mulch over the surface of the soil
and by cultivating it when necessary
The opportunities for the first settlers
who 60 in are particularly good. A man
who takes up homestead and buys a
quarter section may get free pasture for
his cattle and other stock for several
years to come, unless the whole country
should be occupied at once, or within
a short time. Every young cattle beast
will bring its owner $500 year with
almost no cost for food, and but little
cost for shelter, and sheep husbandry
would be equally profitable. A fair
field is open for dairying, as fodder can
be grown so plentifully, and the oppor-
tunity for growing poultry is immense
The Denver market is not far away.
A few families should locate near to
one another This would reduce the
outlay for implements, and they could
cooperate in labor. Fortunately, good
pure water may be obtained at most
anywhere at depth of, say 10 to 200
feet. Some of the settlers who come
into this country, may fail, but if they
do, in the judgment of the writer, it
will be their own fault. If they com
bine bookkeeping with grain growing
from the first they cannot fail with
prudent management. This country viii
soon be covered with prosperous homes.
1t will never be land, however, for
slip-shod farmers. 1t must be managed
with intelligence.
Professor Thos. Shaw,
18th Aug. 1905.
Author of Animal Breeding" ''Gras-
ses and How to Grow Them" Forage
CrOns - "SOilino CrOns and tho Silo
etc., etc., ETC..