The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-05
MINERALS,

| ALFALFA.
This king of forage plants is making
wonderful strides in this state. Their
probably isn't any district in th
United States where it yields til
abundance of hardy, plump seed wil.
out irrigation that it does in th'
northwestern part of this state. w,
can give instances of farmers west o
the Missouri river who sold as high a.
$40 worth of alfalfa seed per acre las
year, besides having one cutting O
hay. S35 to $50 worth of seed PEI
acre is usual in that part of the state
The plant thrives excellently all ovel
the state, but seems to seed more
heavily in the northwest sections
Along the foothills of the Black Hills
alfalfa is very largely grown, anc
much of it baled and shipped. The
soil seems to already contain the bac,
terra necessary for the best results in
the growing of this plant.
IRRIGATION.
Irrigation is practiced to great ex
tent along the base of the Black Hills
but many bitches tnat were once used
have been abandoned, for the reason
that they have found that successful
agriculture can be carried on without
it, and with less expense.
The government is completing an
enormous irrigation prospect neal
Belle Fourche, embracing several
townships of land, which is being
placed on the market. 1t also main
tains an experiment station of 16(
acres, half Of it being used for expert
ments with irrigation, and the othel
half dry farming.
DRY FARMING.
The term "dry farming" has been
indiscriminately applied to a large
section of the country, and particu-
larly to North and South Dakota un.
Justly. There are sections of the
United States and also western Can.
ada where it is necessary to summer
fallow and thus conserve the moisture
at least one year in three. This is
entirely unnecessary in South Dakota
and has been found to be unprofiita.
BILE in the experiments that have been
conducted with it. Deep blowing to
hold the heavy rains when they come,
compact seed bed, and surface culti-
walton are all that are necessary in
this state to produce the very best OF
yields. For best results in the west,
ern portion Of the state cultivated
crop of some kind; (corn, potatoes,
beans, etc., should be grown at least
one year in three, and still better, one
year in two. With this method OF
cropping, and good tillage there is nc
more reason for failure in this state
than in any of the others.
FRUIT.
In early days it was a question in
the minds of great many whether
or not this state was adapted to the
growing of fruit. There isn't any
point in the state now where fruit is
not successfully grown if cared for as
is necessary in any locality. Straw
berries, currants, gooseberries, plums
crab apples, and a few of the hardy
varieties of summer fall and winter
apples are now successfully grown il
all parts of South Dakota. In the
southern portion of the state CONNER
cial orcharding is obtaining some foot
hold and in the Black Hills this is one
of the leading industries. The most
beautiful apples, prunes, grapes ant
berries that we have ever seen grown
are produced in the Black Hills, ant
the flavor is something unrivaled BY
the fruit of almost any other district
and particularly of any irrigated dis
trict.
TAXES.
One of the important things to b,
considered by the home seeker is tax
es. In some states these have becom,
a positive burden. In this particula
South Dakota again offers peculiar ad
vantages. 1t now has all of the high
er educational institutions any of til,
states enjoy, besides thorough,
equipped and perfectly adequate insti
tutions for the care of her unfortu
mates and criminals; a beautiful mod
ern capitol building; her state fai
grounds well supplied with building
and conveniences; while her total debt
bonded and floating, is only 1886, S03. !
or about $0.98 for each man, woma
and child in the state.
4 Nearly every county in the state
now provided with adequate publ
buildings, and is at the same tim
either absolutely or practically fire
from debt. The average taxes on II
acres of land in South Dakota for a
purposes, state, county, school an
every public expense will ayerae
about s2O. This of course varies j
different counties, and in differe1
school districts even in the same cou]
ty. We are just completing our ne
; capitol building and paying for
without issuing any bonds. Were
not for the expense we have incurrt
f,r this purpose, the state would n
have any debt whatever. In view
the fact that the acreage of land su
ject to taxation will in five years fro
Continued on page fiye)