Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-04-17
SOIL SURVEY REPORTS CONDITIONS IN THE
==STATE OF NORTH DAk0TA-=
the state, covered by this solid sur

the state, covered by this solid sur.
vey.
Grain Yields.
Under the conditions of extensive
farming which prevail, yield of ~
to Is bushels per acre of wheat Is
considered profitable. The average
yield for the entire state amounts to
1855 bushels, and even in the west
ern portion, under favorable climatic
conditions, yields of 80 to 40 bushels
per acre have been recorded. The
recent introduction and demOnstra-
ton of the drought resistant macar'
oni, or durum wheat. has led to an
increase in the average yield per
acre, and this variety is particularly
we'll adapted to the soil and climatic
conditions of the western portion of
North Dakota. The ordinary varie-
ties grown are the Blue Stem and
the Red Fife. All varieties produce
grains of high quality, which rank
high in the market grades of hard
wheat. Thus far practically all at
tention has been given to the pro-
duction of spring wheat. although
hardy winter wheat varieties are be
ing introduced. With, <he present
wheat prices the average return per
acre is not less than SIS to SIG, and
the cost of production from breaking
the land to threshing the wheat rang
es from 81 to IS. Thus, while the
net profit per acre is not phenomenal,
the production of one or two hundred
acres of wheat insures an excellent
income to the family engaged in
farming in the western portion of
North Dakota. Corn is grown to
some extent, although the latitude is
a little high for any except native
varieties, which have become thor
oughly acclimated.
Next to the hay and grain crops,
potatoes rank in Importance The
crop is grown in nearly all parts of
the area, the tubers are of excellent
quality. and the yield sometimes at
tains $50 to 200 bushels per acre.
The average yield under the extern
sive system of cultivation practiced,
is probably not far from 100 BUSH
els.
Necessity Of Soil knowledge.
Thus far the adoption of particu-
lar soils to different crops and to
varieties of different crops grown,
has been little recognized in the haste
of occupation and sunjugation of the
land. 1t was the purpose of the soil
survey to show definitely the loca-
ton and extent of the soils of differ
ent character throughout the west
ern portion of the state, in order that
the solid, substantial development of
agriculture in the region should be
based upon a. fundamental knowl:
edge of the particular soils which
were best suited to the production of
each crop. The first step in acquir
ing such a knowledge is to- ascertain
the kind of soil and it's location:
Then with the progress Of settlement
and with the development of more
specialized agriculture it will be pos
sible to correlate the success which
any particular farmer secures with
a given crop or with his particular
variety Of that crop with the soil
under which he is working,
and a glance at the map will show
"
crops may be grown with equal sue
cess throughout the entire territory.
In connection with the soil survey,
work, the North Dakota agricultural
college and experiment station are
experimental farms in all
portions of the state and the results
of their experiments conducted upon
definite soil types will, through the
of the soil map, be d.
rectly applicable over the entire 49,
900 square miles of territory covered
by the soil survey.
Typical Pioneer Has Vanished.
Anyone who expects to encounter !
the typical old time pioneer in these |
prairie sections, will be disappointed.
While many Of the new settlers have
come poorly equipped with farming |
still modern farm ma
chinery is in use upon practically all
the farms, with the exception of the
newest homesteads. A settler has no
time to walk at his work, and gang
riding plows and disc harrows, seed |
ers and improved harvesting machin-
cry are in almost universal use thru
out the section. The level topography
Of great part of the region, the
of soil conditions over
wide areas. and the large extent of
agricultural holdings all necessitate
on grand scale. It is no
sight to see large gang plows
hauled by traction engines.
Requirements Of the Homesteader
The homesteader for the equipment
Of his 160-acre farm, usually includes
a walking pillow and a gang pillow, a
disc harrow, and a spike tooth har-
row, his drill, binder, mower, rake,
wagons, and harness, the total cost
of which will approximate about $500.
In addition he must have his team,
his small tools, his necessary house
hold equipment. To pay for his en-
tire outfit and his necessary seed,
will require from 81, 200 to 1900, and,
of course he should have a in hand a
sufficient amount of money and a
sufficient credit to enable him to loaf
until the first crops are harvested.
The average farm consists of the 100
acre homestead, but already the more
prosperous settlers have begun the