Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-19
More Than 100
Soil Varieties
Found in State
Most of Them Unusually Pro.
ductive Without Use of Arti.
ficial Fertilizers.-.Conser-
vation Movement Strong.
By: G. Z. coNDRA,
Director, Conservation and Survey
Division of the University
t4 ne N>Ar.-l..


Division of the University
Of Nebraska.
The basic industry of Nebraska is
agriculture. supported by favorable
climatic conditions and more than
100 kinds Of soil, most of which are
unusually productive without the use
OF artificial fertilizers. These nat
ural conditions and resources being
so favorable are worthy of the
knowledge and deepest appreciation,
not only of Nebraska, but OF the
people generally. The fertile soils
will, il rightly managed, support a
prosperous citizenship when some
parts of the world have passed into
a condition OF impoverish and
starvation. Knowing these favorable
relations compared with parts Of
some states and of other countries
aud having a degree of appreciation
and of love for the state. every citi-
zen should be assured in his own
mind of the future prosperity of Ne
braska and give more time and serv-
ice to the kinds of development
which should result from a rich heri-
tage such as ours.
Centrally Located.
Nebraska is centrally located in
the mainland of the United States.
alongside the Missouri highway and
in the path Of the well-known over
land routes. This position gives to
Nebraska wide outlook and to the
thousands of people crossing this
way knowledge of our resources,
industries and condition of develop
ment The state is favorably To-
Gated with respect to the big COM
mercial centers and markets Of other
states and foreign countriesN
Nebraska is large state, having
an area of 77,510 square miles, or
1900 square miles more than all OF
New England. Its altitude is be-
tween $40 and 5,340 feet, the lowest
point being in the extreme south
eastern corner and the highest near
the Wyoming line where Banner and
khnball counties join.
Climatic Conditions-The climatic
elements have a marked effect upon
the soil, agriculture and general de-
velopment. The mean annual tenn
perature is 48.5 degrees, being 81 de-
grees in the southeast and As degrees
in the northwest, decreasing with
latitude and altitude. The growing
season Gree from frosts) is about
loo days in the southeast counties i
and l30 days in the northwest. The
growing season is about 80 days
longer in the southeast than in the
northwest, but it is Of sufficient
length throughout the state for the
production OF staple crops. Alfalfa
produces four crops each year in the
southeast counties and about three in
the northwest counties.
Farmers Adapt Crops.
The relative humidity for the state
is about 20 per cent, decreasing from
east to west. The mean annual rain
fall is % inches, being 50 inches or
more in the southeast and about 10
inches at the western border. The
amount and distribution of rainfall
are important controls, in the life
snd industries of the state. The ma
tive vegetation gives expression to
this fact and the farmers have
learned to adapt their crops and
methods of cultivation to the eli
matte conditions and soils.
Fortunately for agriculture the
heaviest rainfall Of the year comes
in May, June and July, which is the
main part of the growing season.
Survey Information. Persons wish
ing information in regard to the soil
resources of the state should write
the conservation and survey division
of the University of Nebraska. The
state soil survey department OF this
division, cooperating will. the
United States bureau of soils, has
studied, mapped and described Al
counties Of the state. Bulletin IS, de-
scribing the soils of Nebraska, shows
what publications are available. This
bulletin is free upon request.
State Is Diverse.
Natural Division of Nebraska
Our state is more diverse than is
generally supposed. Much of it is
comparatively smooth, but there are
mountainous areas in the west and
northwest. On a basis of topog-
raphy, drainage, soils, native vege-
tation and economic development
Nebraska is divided into three we'll
defined regions-the loess, sandhiil
and high plains.
The loess soil region occupies
about 10000 square miles of the
southeast half Of the state. It's loess
mantle occurs in the rough lands,
undulating to hilly lands, smooth up |