The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-24
SOUTH DAKOTA in
The ] ! B. FOREGROUND !: !
GREAT DIVERSITY or THE
STATES PRODUCTS.
Much Of It's Prosperity Can Be Direct
" Traced TO- the Intelligent Work of
the Experimental Station at High
i mora -E 2e5s5 ,--s f5 -, PAL. $50
~ HERBERT evANDERHooF..

~ 2.-. ....z.rr~ r s>>,ass i.
~ HEReERT svANDERHooF. ..s
AS the harvest time approaches the
attention of people all over the United
States is being turned to the newspaper
reports of the wonderful fields Of grain
which are to be cut in ithe great western
states that supply the markets for the
remaining states and export hundreds of
thousands of bushels to foreign coun-
tries. ... -. =. zt.rI.
In all of these accounts you will find
South Dakota is accorded a prominent
place, and JUSTLY for she can boast OF
excellent showing Of other grains and
excellen showing in other grains and
produce of various sorts. ...-.- = as.E
The natural sources of wealth: in this
prosperous state are so many that it is 4
almost bewildering to person who in
vestigate the subject for the first time,
and with little definite previous .knowl-
edge of the rapid march Of events in
South Dakota. Probably very few real
lied ten years ago the great future
which lay before this, state-its marvel
Gus adaptability in soil and climate to
the growth Of 500 many industries and
the production of such varied crops. But
certainly the last few years have proved
to even the most skeptical that the re-
sources Of South Dakota need only to be
tried In order to yield wonderful results.
The eastern counties were earliest In
developing, and certain districts in the
central portion followed very closely.
The discovery of the mineral wealth in
the region of the, Black Hills took many
people there, and several large cities
soon appeared; but it is only quite re-
Gently that the homeseekers have begun
to realize the great advantages which,
await them in this state, and the tide
of immigration is Increasing steadily
from year to year, and with it rises the
value Of the land. .:s
A good example Of the manner in
unexpected ways is shown: in the work
| of the experimental farm at HighmOre
in .Hdye county. When this farm was
established. less than decade ago, the
ton of South Dakota would be a grazing
rather than farming district. The ma
tive grass unquestionably was and is a.
great source Of wealth for It has re-
make it very Valuable for cattle, sheep
and horses, but events have proved that
the soil which is capable of sproducing
such grass is also we'll suited to other
crops equally valuable, r.~ >>e.-: 49,
| = Extent OF the Work.
The experiments at the Highmore farm
have been steadily increasing in scope,
|fvarious sorts suited to the climate and
the soil of the surrounding counties The
soil and general lay of ythe land at the
Highmore experimental farm are per-
1oor .1yt{fc aStc An1 q 10 IN
Hyde county, but in many ways this is
an advantage in estimating the value Of
the tests which are made there, because
if successful under: these conditions they
farmers under more favorable circum-
stances s IT. woilldf be difficult Ito sesti1
mate thecamount of assistance which has
sources Of, the. counties about Hyde,
are CLOSELY. similaf as West sBeadie,
Hughes, sully, Potter and Faulk. :: T.. =
The experimental farm consists of 1T
acres, and to the upintiated it seems al
most miraculous that so much can be
Each year the work to be done is most
carefully mapped out; and certain sec
lions are set apart for each of the tests
which are. to be made from the grasses
Established I to ths various aS KINDS Rr. Of
l wheat, oats and other grains, not ex-
nteres to ha gcR an farnn Eac OF
it's appointed. place, and :: corps>>of careful
attendants who. watch closely each stage
In the growth. Every effort is made to
determine what are the crops; which: will
give the greatest success in this region,
and what varieties in each instance can
be relied upon to yield most beautifully
and surely under the changes which are
brought about naturally each succeeding
season. ~ ..,sa,.. s.~>:-
Thru these experiments, the. deep, rich,
black soil, underlatd with a clay subsoil,
trail counties, is being made :, to yield
abundantly, and yearly contributing to
the wealth of the state as Well as Of in
dividl1als. The droughts, which in years
to the husbandman, are now being
= stripped Of their terrors; for modern inge-
: nuity has made 1T possible to supply
water where, before ives xas see scarcity
} cites Of crops which can resist dry ano
cold weather, and the increasing popula-
I ton and cultivation of the soil, we are
fall more abundant. Where the pioneer
. Of a quarter of a-century or more age
had to learn his lessons thru painful ex,
the the soil soil only after many hardships, the
settler of today finds the greatest diff
cuties smoothed'' away-he has but t
select his land and then plant upon i
proved to be the best for that soil, ant
success attends him: Hard work it may
be to care for a large. tract Of land
whether it is used for farming, cattle
raising or vegetable gardening, but wher
the results are satisfactory, there is nj
cause for complaint. ~ 49, e
Good Results from Alfalfa.
At the Highmore station for the pas
seven years experiments have been II
progress with alfalfa, and a recent repor
| to the federal government states tina
1'during all this time no perennial forag
plant has shown to better advantage. /
has proved that 1t is capable of resisting
extremes Of both drought and celd-thi
being especially. true Of varieties which
have been brought from northern coun
tries. That which is known at Turke
stan alfalfa has an unusually fine recor,
at the farm, for in spite of the fact tina
several seasons had only short perio,
when the conditions were favorable t
the growth of the plants, the yield 0
hay was excellent and the plants shoy
themselves to be strong and healthy.
Where such reports acan be made O
alfalfa there IL no reason to fear for tn
future. because land where that Wi
grow will always be desira ble--its valu
will increase lust as surely as the sea
sons come and go. It has proved itsel
invaluable in the cattle raising industry
and In dairy farming, but probably onl
half Of its usefulness lis yet known in tn
of the