The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-17
NORTH DAKOTA SOILS DISCUSSED
Dr. Leonard Of the State University Gives Report on "Daota
sois'-Richest Soil Composed Of Glacial Sediment
Glacial Drift Soils Cover Portion Of State.


the rock on which they rest.
AIiuvtai Soils.
These are found along the rivers
and constitute soils of great fertility.
The alluvium occurs on the lowlands
or flood plains forming the bottoms
Of the valleys and is seldom more
than twenty or thirty feet above the
river level. The alluvial material
consists of sand or clay, or mixture
OF the two, and represents the sedi-
ment laid down by the streams in the
time of flood. All of the larger rivers
of the state have developed flood
plains varying in width from frac-
ton of mile to several miles and
formed of alluvial deposits, which
constitute the rich soil of these bot
tom lands.
Grains to Suit Western N. D.
The following extracts are taken
from the third biennial report of
the North Dakota geological survey
and describe some interesting expert
ments which have been made in rails
ing grain crops: adapted, to the eli
mate and soil of the western part Of.
the sta.a:
! Some interesting facts concerning
North Dakota have been brought out
by Mark Alfred. Carlton in study
which he has made of the climate
and agricultural products of Russia
"Mr. Carlton states that many of
our most valued varieties, Of grain
came originally from some part of
Russia. The red winter wheat, called
Turkey wheat, which has been grown
in the great plains for twenty-five
years, came from Crimea. Probably,
also, the entire group of fife wheats
came from Russia. for they are SINH
lar to the Ghirkas of the Volga re-
gicn. Furthermore a series of field
experiments with 1000 varieties of
wheat, and 800 of oats, barley, rye
and spells have been carried on by
the agricultural department for four
years, and it. is found that Russian
cereals, especially the wheats, are
best adapted to culture on the prairie
and northern parts of the United
States.
"The investigations with respect to
soils and climate show striking par
allelism between certain parts of CEN
trail Russia and western North Da-
kota. First in respect to soils, there
is the same graduation between black,
kumus prairie soil, through acid, neu-
trail and alkaline soils and appears in
the prairie of the West; there is also
similar combination in the soil of
salts which are useful for plan.
growth. It is quite likely, although
no test has been made, that the soils
Of the river valleys have chemical
snd, physical characteristics that
would make them compare favorably
with the black earth region of Rus.
STA.
cat Samara, near the heart of the
Volga country, the rainfall is 1876
inches, which, it will be seen, is about
the same as that of the Little Mis-.
souri, basin. The normal temperature
of Samara, 1913 degrees F., is slightly
less than that of Bismarck, while the
July normal is IL degrees higher than
at the same place.
Plants Change With Climate.
Botanical investigations have shown
that plants subject to the above men,
toned characteristics of climate are
constituted differently than plants of
the humid region. Such plants have
adaptations that enable them to re.
sist, to a certain extent, the evapo-
rating power of hot, dry climates.
The cereals grown for centuries in
Russia very naturally thrive here.
AS an example of what is possible in
this state, certain examples of the
growth of grain in Russia may be
stated. The Perm and Vyatka areas
having a climate as dry. as that Of
western North Dakota, have stood
two years at the head of the Russia
districts in growing oats. Samara
stands forth as spring wheat dis.
trict
Several of these varieties of wheat,
oats and rye are we'll adapted to, the
valley lands. of North Dakota. In
their native habitats there is consid-
erably larger rainfall during the
growing season than here, but the de.
ficiency could easily be made up by
irrigation. The principal thing to be.
noticed about these Russian grains
is that they are adapted to a short
and cool growing season. Many have
already been introduced, and others
doubtless will be.
It may be interesting to note here
that a colony of Russian Germans
have settled in the vicinity of Mann
haven, where, by practicing methods
of farming. learned in their father
land, they have been successfully till
ing the upland soils for years. Good
wheat, oats and potatoes, With all of
garden stun, were seen growing on
these seemingly arid fats, and pota-
toes were purchased In this region the
last Of July as good as could be grown
in an illinois garden"
a Fine Dors.
4 Col. Kelly has the distinction Of
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