The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-10
SOIL SURVEY OF
RICHLAND COUNTY
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS SAY 1T
OFFERS SPLENDID oPPoR-
TUNITIEs FOR AeRI-
CULTURE.


Washington, Dec. 10.--Government
experts who have recently completed
soil survey of Richland county.
North Dakota, declare the county to
be In a prosperous condition and Of
fering splendid opportunities for va
rious lines OF farming and stock rails
ing.
1t was found that the soil of this
county ranges from clay TO sand and
Is derived from glacial material, either
laid down as terminal and ground mo-
raines, or as the same faterial rework
eli Nv streams and deposited in ancient
Lake Aga SSH, part OF these deposits
being I'm the fern Of delta at the
ancien: mouth OF the Sheyenne river.
Fifteen different SOILS, two Of them
phases of established types, were dis
covered.
A summary Of the report follows:
Although there IL a wide range In
the temperature the climate IL health
full. Wahpeton the county seat and
the largest town, has population OF
about 5000. 1t is a juncture point of
several railroads.
There are four different railroad
systems in the county, which AFFORD
excellent transportation facilities and
besides these, the Fargo & South
western, branch OF the Northern Pa
cific, passes within one mile of the
northwestern boundary of the county.
There are seventy-five elevators in the
county which handle grain for Mime
apolis and the Duluth markets.
About 71.6 per cent Of the farms
Of the area are operated by thte own
ers. The tenanted farms are leased on
the share basis, usually for one-half
the crop. Wheat, oats, barley and
corn, are the principal crops. Land
ranges in value from $40 to $50 an
acre. depending on location, type of
soil. market facilities and the like.
THE Fargo loan, $40 square miles,
or % per cent of the entire area of
the county is well adapted TO general
farming, producing good yields of
wheat oats, barley and corn. The
drainage is fair and the crops seldom
suffer from drought. This land is
valued at from $50 to $40 an acre and
ranks among the best soils in the
county.
THE Fargo clay loan is the heaviest
soil in the county cultiyatedto any ex-
tent. 1t generally contains a high per
cent Of organic matter and in average
seasons produces excellent yields in
small grains In wet seasons, how
ever, there is an excess Of moisture
and the yields are sometimes small. 1t
is not well adapted to durum wheat,
but bluestem is generally grown. Its
value is about the same as that of
Fargo loan, or possibly slightly less.
THE Fargo clay is the heaviest
| soil ~ the county and is generally
uncultivated 1t occurs near the Red
river and is poorly drained. It's or
Iganic content is very high and with
| perfect drainage would produce fine
crops. 1t is difficult soil to cultivate.
THE Fargo fine sandy loan, BAL
square miles or % per cent Of the area
of the county is the most extensive
type mapped in the county. II is well
adapted to general farming and espe-
cially to durum wheat and corn. 1t is
valued from $50 to $35 an acre.
"The Marshall loan occupies most
of the unoccupied drift area Of the
county an the topography Is from
gently rolling to hilly. In seasons of
| excessive rainfall or Of drought the
soil is one of the best in the area and
an entire crop failure rarely occurs.
1t is valued at from $50 to $40 an acre.
"The Fargo sandy loan is very
similar to Fargo fine sandy loan,
practically the only difference being
in the subsoil. It produces slightly
better yields and the latter type and
| its value is therefore slightly higher.
''The Fargo silt loan covers a COM
paratively small area but is one of the
best soils in the county, being well
adapted to general farming. It's value
is about the same as that of Fargo
loan.
'The Wabash loan is the only allu-
vial soil in the county. It has a wide
variation in texture but all phases
generally produce good yields
| The Fargo fine sand Dunesand,. and
Meadow are types having the lowest
agricultural value. They are practic-
| ally all uncultivated, being generally
used for hay or pasture land. The
| swamp phase of the first type is I'M
cultivated at present because poorly
drained. If reclaimed 1t would have a
much higher value than the rest of
| the soil.
The Fargo gravelly loan covers
small areas and is unimportant."