Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-03-31

Jag near the source of the Red River
OF the North.. paralleling it about
twenty five miles on the east, up to
Lake county, thence eastward running
near the southern shore of lower Red
Lake. northeast to Bors Fort Indian
reservation, thence northwest encir-
cling Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba,
back to the international boundary line
about fifty miles west of Red River of
the North, paralleling the river, about
fifty miles'west. to the source
.''lt wrfl at once be seen that the
widely known Red River valley was
covered by this lake. Not only did
the Red River valley receive it's vast
amount of fertility from the deposits
(settlings) of this lake. but the vast
area east, north and northwest, as out
lined by the above area received rich
etab}e matter and organic debris found
over this area. The fertility of this
large area Of deposit has been proved
by the results of the Red River valley,
which inc udes the Thief River valley
as tributary area.
Character of Soil.
Thus, summing up the soil forma-
ton OF these drainage districts we find:
First, that by action of the glaciers
in prehistoric times there was a vary
ing amount of glacial till Or ground up
mass of rocks spread over the surface
varying from 100 to 200 feet in thick
ness; second, as a result of these gla-
clers large lake was formed which
has now nearly disappeared, but has
left its traces by the beaches formed
and large deposits of organic matter
together with dissolved mineral sub
stances, Just like many lakes are doing
today in the state of Minnesota. This
in way accounts for the levelness of
the district and the varying thickness
OF vegetable or organic matter. Or
ganic accumulations in many places
have been going on since that time due
to the growth of spagnum moss and
characteristic vegetation of the
swamps
THE organic matter varies from
undertake with clay slightly sandy. In
some places pockets Of gravel were
discovered which came within about
two or three feet of the surface. The
vegetable or organic matter of the soils
which are under cultivation and as a.
rule, are partially drained, shows a
good degree of disintegration and by
comparison of adjoining lower tracts
which have not been drained at all, wa
ter standing at the surface, prove that
a, few years Of good drainage and
plowlng or loosenlng up yearly will
bring about good results.
Clay Is Important.
"The clay undermining this organic
matter is not a fact to lose sight of
If the water level is lowered several
feet below the surface of the ground.
the, clay is one Of the best types of soil
to help raise this water to the roots of
growing plants Gas kerosene raises in
a lamp wick). Where the particles are
large as sandy sub soil or gravel the
underground water will not rise nearly
so rapidly nor SO high as with clay. The
larger the particles the less the height
to which the water will rise and the
more easily it will drain. The slight
amount of sand will drain much more
quickly than subsoil of pure clay.
''As to the fertility Of the soil of
this locality, there can not help but be
plenty Of the plant food clements.
namely nitrogen, potash and phos-
phorus, present. It being a new soil,
alIuvial deposit formation, as cited
above, OVERLAPPING glacial till or highly
dlsintegra.ed rock particles, leaves lit
tie or no DOUBT as to the question of
amount of plant food. -l.G
Soil Conditions Change.
When the water is removed from
the vegetable matter, a great change
N soil conditions will be h brought
q h II