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Cut-Off Lakes occur in the Missouri, Elkhorn, Loup and other valleys. Carter Lake, near Omaha; Quinnebaugh, Burt county, and Blyburg and Crystal lakes of Dakota county are examples of this kind. Cut-off lakes are used for boating, fishing, sources of ice, and by hunting clubs.
     Artificial Lake, for ice production are at Seymour, Ashland, Memphis, Falls City, and other places. Some lakes, formed by damming streams for water power, serve for boating, bathing, skating, fishing, hunting and as sources of ice. The best known of these are at Seward, Beatrice, Milford, Dewitt, Fairbury, Blue Springs, Holmesville, Deweese, Cambridge, Maywood, Long Pine, Ericson, Valentine, and south of Spencer.
     Irrigation Reservoirs have been built, two being quite large. They are Lake Alice, north of Scottsbluff, occupying about 700 acres, and Lake Minatare, north of the town for which it was named and having an area of about 2,500 acres. These lakes are flood water stored for irrigation, but are used to some extent for fishing, boating, hunting, etc. There are several places along the Platte and other valleys where reservoirs could be constructed for water storage for irrigation and other purposes.

     There are many springs in the state. They are common in the Pine Ridge region and along the Niobrara. Seepage occurs about the borders of most sandhill lakes. Rivers heading in the sandhills are fed more by springs than directly from the rainfall. The ravines of the Missouri, Elkhorn and Republican contain many small springs. Springs occur at a number of places along the outcrops of the Dakota formation between Dixon and Jefferson counties.
     Fortunately, spring water is available at most places in the state where it is difficult to secure good well water.

     The principal rivers of Nebraska are the Missouri, White, Niobrara, Elkhorn, Loup, Platte, Republican, Little Blue, Big Blue, and the Nemahas. They are used for fish culture, boating, park purposes, water supplies, water power, sewage disposal and irrigation. The. flow of most rivers fluctuates considerably during the year but the Loup, Niobrara and Big Blue are quite uniform in discharge.
     The Missouri River borders the state on the east and northeast for a distance of about four hundred and sixty miles. The fall in this distance averages about one foot per mile yet the current is quite swift. The river has a tendency to shift its course and damages a large amount of valuable land. It has destroyed whole farms within a few days. Methods now used are effective in checking this destruction. The control of the river will require a large outlay. The results, however, should prove beneficial to land owners, railroads, cities along the course, and to the state as a whole.

     The Missouri has not been developed for power. Most of its large tributaries, however, were developed for power in the early history of the state and later abandoned on account of their small, irregular flow, floods, and channel changes made in connection with the drainage of agricultural lands. The water power record of these streams is as follows: Ponca Creek, installed and abandoned, 2; Bazile Creek, installed, and abandoned, 4; Bow Creek, installed, 2, abandoned, 1, operating, 1; Aowa Creek, installed and abandoned, 3; Omaha Creek, installed and abandoned, 2; Elm Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Tekamah Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Papillion. Creek, installed and abandoned, 4; Ervine Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Weeping Water Creek, installed and abandoned, 5; Walnut Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Camp Creek north of Peru, installed and abandoned, 1; Little Nemaha basin, installed and abandoned, 11; Big Nemaha basin, installed and abandoned, 18; total installed, 56; abandoned, 55; operating, 1.
     The Missouri is used for city water supplies and sewage disposal. The water at Omaha and Nebraska City is pumped from the river and treated, making an abundant supply of good quality. The river presents possibilities in navigation, for which there is a growing public sentiment. The tributaries of the Missouri serve in drainage, for stock water, and afford fishing.
     The Niobrara, or Running Water, heads in Wyoming, but receives very little water from that source. It is largely a Nebraska stream increasing gradually from only a few feet in width at the Wyoming line to a small river soon after the sandhills are reached where the volume rapidly increases and the flow becomes quite uniform. In the lower course, however, the river is wider, shallow and somewhat less even in discharge.
     The drainage area of the Niobrara is about nine thousand square miles of high plains and sandhill country. The prevailing soils on the upper and middle parts of the drainage are fine sandy loam, loamy sand, dune sand and rough stony land. The lower part of the drainage is occupied by finer textured soils.
     The Niobrara Valley is quite deep, bordered by rough land near the Wyoming line. It becomes wider before the sandhills are reached. The middle course or sandhill stretch and the upper part of the lower course are deep, bordered by bluffs, stony land, sandhills and small bench lands. Here the river flows over a number of rock outcrops making small rapids. Near the Missouri the valley as wider, bordered by rough Pierre hills and slopes.
     Much of the Niobrara flow comes from springs issuing from the sandhills. There is a quite uniform discharge of about 870 second feet at Valentine, and of more than 1,000 second feet at the mouth, at the town of Niobrara. The leading tributaries of the Niobrara and their approximate discharges are: Bear Creek, about 20 second feet;

Snake River, 200 to 300 second feet; Minnechaduza Creek, 30 or more second feet; Keyapaha River, 50 to 200 second feet; Eagle Creek, 10 to 25 second feet; and Verdigre Creek, 40 to 100 second feet.
     The western course of the Niobrara valley is sub-irrigated from the -river. Also considerable areas are covered by small canals. The middle course has a number of waterfalls in the tributaries. They occur in Snake River, Schlagle and most other creeks, and where some of the small streams drop into the river. These falls, the rugged. topography and tree growth make the Niobrara a scenic part of the state. There are beautiful parks along the Minnechaduza, at Valentine and in Long Pine Valley at Long Pine. The Minnechaduza and Plum Creek reservoirs afford fishing, boating and bathing. Trout fishing is quite good in some of the Niobrara tributaries.
     Several powers have been built in the Niobrara and its tributaries and about 80,000 theoretical horsepower could be developed. A market for part of this might be supplied by the railroads, and by Sioux City, and many other places could be reached by long distance transmission. Snake Creek, the main tributary, would be an ideal stream for powers if it were more favorably located.
     The water power record of the Niobrara drainage is as follows: Niobrara River, built, 10, abandoned, 8, operating, 2. In the tributaries--Pine Creek, installed and operating, 1; creek east of Pine Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; creek north of river, western part of Cherry County, installed and abandoned, 1; Snake Creek, installed and abandoned, 2; Minnechaduza Creek, installed, 3, abandoned,- 2, operating, 1; Beaver Creek, built and abandoned, 1; Fairfield Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Plum Creek, installed, 6, abandoned, 5, operating, 1; Long Pine Creek, installed, 7, abandoned, 6, operating, 1; Bone Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Keyapaha River, installed and abandoned, 3; Big Sandy Creek, installed and abandoned, 2; Ash Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Verdigre Creek, installed and abandoned, 3; total for river and tributaries, installed, 44; abandoned, 38; operating, 6.
     The Cornell project in the Niobrara 3% miles east of Valentine is one of the largest water powers in the state. It generates about 200 horse-power which could be increased if a larger market could be found for it than is now found at Valentine, Crookston, Kilgore and Cody. This project and the Gillman Mill are now owned by the Interstate Power Company.
     The Gillman Mill, on Minnechaduza Creek north of Valentine, has
operated for several years, although the dam has been rebuilt three times following washouts. There is a city park below the dam, and the lake above is used for boating, fishing and bathing.
     The Interstate Power Company has a big power plant on Plum Creek from which electric current is transmitted to Ainsworth and Bassett - and used for light and power. This is one of the main powers in the state. The company also owns the plant at Long Pine.

     Whiting Bridge Power. This is in the Niobrara proper near Whiting bridge southeast of Spencer. It is on the highway between Spencer and O'Neill and is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the state.
     The Elkhorn River drains sandhill, prairie plain, loess plain and locos hill areas. Its valley is wide and shallow in the upper part and deeper in the lower course. The stream is sluggish at the headwaters but quite swift and subject to flooding in its middle and lower stretches. The river has a normal discharge at the Platte of 1,200 or more second feet.
     North Fork, entering at Norfolk, is one of the principal tributaries. It overflows some years, interfering with power development and farming. There is a power plant at Norfolk. The Logan branch is a small stream in a wide valley floor subject to frequent flooding but better drainage has been effected by large ditches. Drainage changes have caused the abandonment of three powers in this valley.
     The trunk stream of the Elkhorn has been developed for power at Atkinson, O'Neill, Ewing, Clearwater, Neligh, Stanton, West Point, Scribner, Hooper and Waterloo; All these, except at Atkinson, have been destroyed by high water. The type of construction was not suited to a sandy bed. Powers have been installed in tributaries of the Elkhorn at or near Winslow, Oakland, Lyons, Ponder, Bancroft, Scribner, Beemer, Madison, 'Norfolk, Pierce, Battle Creek, Oakdale and Ewing. All of these are now abandoned except at Norfolk, Battle Creek, Madison and Oakdale. The water power record of the Elkhorn drainage is-installed, 23, abandoned, 18, operating, 5.
     The Platte is now Nebraska's most valuable river. It enters the state by two branches--the South Platte from the mountains and plains of Colorado, and the North Platte from the table lands and mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. The South Platte occupies a broad U-shaped valley bordered by gradual to steep slopes in which the prevailing soils are sandy barns and gravelly loams. The stream is on a sandy bed among low islands. The discharge is variable, decreasing in summer to a small channel and even to a dry bed. The winter flow averages about 1,000 second feet. The maximum discharge is 7000 second feet or more. The low stage is caused largely by evaporation, but could be overcome by the storage of more flood water in Colorado from which there would be a return flow. Some land is irrigated from this stream in Nebraska, but the amount of water received during the irrigation season is not very dependable without flood water storage.
     Lodgepole Creek, the main tributary of the South Platte in Nebraska, is fully used for irrigation. Water is stored in a reservoir and in several ponds. The reservoir, located seven and one-half miles west of Kimball, holds water for irrigating about 7,000 acres in the vicinity of Kimball. Other land in the valley is covered by small ditches. A water power built below Potter was abandoned several years ago.

     The North Platte Valley is wide in Scotts Bluff county and across part of Morrill county but narrows and some of the slopes become comparatively steep between the eastern part of Morrill county and Lincoln county. The river is fed principally by snow water and spring water of Wyoming and Colorado. More than one million acre feet of flood water is stored in the Pathfinder reservoir about 45 miles southwest of Casper and released during the irrigation season. This storage water flows on the river bed and through canals to big reservoirs in Scotts Bluff county, Nebraska, where it is released for irrigation here and farther down-valley. Also, some of the water is carried directly from the river through big canals to the lands. The North Platte valley is Nebraska's big irrigation area.
     Below the junction of the North and South branches, the Platte occupies a broad valley in which flood plain, bench land and bluff lands are well defined. The river is shallow and spreads out among islands. Its discharge varies much during the year from flood to dry stage. It decreases in summer until the Loup is reached at Columbus, beyond which the volume is considerably greater to the Missouri. Much of the flood water of the Platte is not utilized yet some of it goes into ground storage which supports sub-irrigation, well irrigation and domestic water supply. Much of it underflows southeastward under the loose plain. It is pumped for irrigation and domestic supply.
     Water Power of the Platte. The North Platte has been developed for power in Wyoming, near Guernsey and Lingle, both near the Nebraska line, and the current is used generally in the North Platte valley of Nebraska. These two big government projects, though in Wyoming, are on the big irrigation system which covers a greater acreage in Nebraska than in Wyoming.
Tributaries of the North Platte have power possibilities or have been developed for power as follows: Pumpkin Creek, though a weak stream, had one power several years ago. Blue Water and Birdwood creeks have steady flows and might support small power developments.
     Of the powers in the lower Platte, five built in Wood River are abandoned. Four powers formerly operated in Shell Creek, but they are now abandoned except one, and of the fifteen powers installed in Salt Creek and Wahoo Creek, all are abandoned except one north of Ashland.
     Gothenburg and Kearney Powers. There are large irrigation and power developments at Gothenburg and Kearney. The Gothenburg project, owned by the Gothenburg Light and Water Company, diverts from The- ! river to a large reservoir just northwest of the city. The lake is used for bathing, boating, fishing and park purposes and water is released to generate about 400 horsepower, The Kearney project, probably the largest in the state in amount of power generated, and owned by the Central Power Company of Grand Island, diverts from the Platte about three miles southeast of Elm Creek and through a 24-mile canal leading to the power station

at Kearney. The project has been allotted 140 second feet of water at the head gate for power. Additional water is drawn from the ground storage at the head gate. Part of the allotment is used for irrigation.
     Several years ago powers were installed in small channels of the Platte at Central City and Grand Island but they are not now operated. The power record of the Platte basin, aside from the Loup and Elkhorn, is as follows: Platte river, installed, 7 (two in Wyoming but serving Nebraska), abandoned, 3, operating, 4 (two in Wyoming); Pumpkin Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Blue Water Creek, not finished, 1; Birdwood Creek, filing, but not built, 1; Wood River, built and abandoned, 6; Silver Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Shell Creek, installed, 4; abandoned, 3; operating, 1; Salt Creek and Wahoo Creek, installed, 15, abandoned, 14, operating, 1; Lodgepole Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; total for Platte drainage (except for the Loup and Elkhorn Rivers) installed, 37, abandoned, 31, operating, 6.
     The Loup River System of the central part of the state forms the main tributary of the Platte. Its drainage basin of about 14,000 square miles includes sandhill, loses plains, loess hills, and broad valley bottoms in which bench lands are a feature. The rivers head in the sandhills where the rainfall soaks into the soil, is conserved and doled out to the streams through seepage, giving a uniform flow. The run-off is more uniform than in most other Nebraska rivers. The approximate mean discharge of the principal branches of the Loup system are: South Loup, 150 to 300 second feet; Muddy Creek, no record; Dismal River, 300 to 400 second feet; Middle Loup, 1,000 to 1,100 second feet; North Loup, 1,000 second feet; Middle Loup, 1,000 to 1,100 second feet; Calamus River, 400 second feet; Spring Creek, no record; Cedar River, 100 to 200 second feet, and Beaver Creek, 50 to 150 second feet.
     The Loup proper is formed by the junction of the Middle and North branches near St. Paul. The discharge of the united rivers at Columbus is rarely below 1,800 second feet in summer and early fall, and is about 3,000 second feet most of the year. The head-water courses of the Loup branches are not much affected by floods, but the lower courses experience floods most years due to spring thaws, ice gorges and rains.
     The Loup valleys are comparatively wide and open. Their floors are bordered by terraces, bluffs, some stony land, and at places by sandhills. The streams, flowing upon sandy beds, have a tendency to shift position. The valley floors drop between 6 and 7 feet per mile. Small water falls occur in the Dismal and North Loup rivers.
     The water power record of the Loup basin is as follows: South Loup, installed, 4, abandoned, 2, operating, 2; Muddy Creek, installed, 5, abandoned, 4, operating, 1; Middle Loup, installed, 8, abandoned, 6,

operating, 2; North Loup River, installed and abandoned, 7; Davis Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; creek at Dannebrog, installed and abandoned, 2; Cedar River, installed, 4, abandoned, 1, operating, 3; Beaver Creek, installed, 4, abandoned, 1, operating, 3; main branch of the Loup at Genoa, installed and abandoned, 1. Total for Loup basin, installed, 37; abandoned, 26, operating, 11. The powers now operating in the Loup basin are at or near Arnold, Callaway, Ravenna, Boelus, Ericson, Sargent, Cedar Rapids, Fullerton, Albion and St. Edwards (2).
     The Boelus, the second or third largest water power project in the state, diverts from the Middle Loup southwest of Boelus. A canal extends eastward about three miles to a power house on the South Loup where current is generated under a head of about 20 feet and transmitted twenty miles to Grand Island for distribution to a number of towns and cities. The Boelus project experiences much difficulty with sand and slush ice. It is supplemented by steam power, as, with practically all Nebraska powers. The Boelus and Kearney projects are now operated by the Central Power Company of Grand Island.
     The Lundy-Electric Power. This, now owned by the Western Public Service Company, is on the Middle Loup about six miles west of Sargent. Rather novel methods are used to get rid of the sand and to manage the slush ice.
     Ericson Power and Lake. The Ericson dam on Cedar River washed out a few years ago, but has been re-built. The project develops electric current. The lake is used for boating, fishing, etc.
     The Iowa-Nebraska Light and Power Company owns and operates a large power plant at Fullerton and the Van Ackerson Hydro-Electric Power Company operates at Cedar Rapids.
     Undeveloped Power Projects. Several large projects have been surveyed along the Loups and the Platte. The main branches of the Loup have power possibilities at places aside from those popularly thought to be the best. The valley floors slope sufficiently for diversion upon low gradients to the bordering valley sides from which water could be dropped to generate power, but the powers, if built, will prove costly and difficult to maintain. Powers would be possible on the Platte along its middle course with flood storage in Plum Creek valley, and at other points below the junction with the Loup. Among the lower projects, two have received most attention. They are known as the Fremont Canal and Power Company, and the Ross Project.
     The amount of power that could be developed in the Loup and Platte rivers is more than would be utilized under present conditions. The promoters of these power possibilities encounter a number of difficulties, mostly physical, financial, and political,
     The Little Blue heads on the loses plains near Hastings and Minden and flows southeastward, leaving Nebraska in the southern part of Jefferson County. It unites with the Big Blue near Waterville, Kansas;

the latter joining the Kansas River near Manhattan. The Little Blue Valley in Nebraska is bordered by gradual slopes in the upper course and by stony land in the vicinity of Fairbury and Steele City. The slopeland soils range between silt loam and sandy loam. The river bed is strewn with sand. The stream is quite swift. The normal flow is about 250 second feet in the southern part of the state, but this I; greatly increased at flood stages. Powers are operated at Deweese, Oak, Hebron, Alexandria, and Fairbury. There are abandoned powers at or near Spring Branch, Reynolds, Kesterson, Angus, Hebron, Old Meridian, Powell and Steele City (three here). The power record of the Little Blue is: installed, 15, abandoned, 10, operating, 5.
     The Big Blue rises in the loess plains and drift hills south of the Platte and flows southward to Kansas and the "Kew." The principal branches come in from the west where they are fed by rainfall and by seepage from the sands under the Ideas plains. The trunk stream is comparatively uniform with a normal discharge of about 450 second feet at the state line.
The Big Blue is Nebraska's best developed power stream. Powers are operating at Seward, and Milford; between Milford and Crete, (2) ; and at or near Crete, (2), Dewitt, Wither, Hoag, Beatrice, Holmesville, Blue Springs, and Barneston. The only abandoned projects in the main channel are at Garber Mill, Staplehurst, Ulysses, and between Seward and Milford. The water power record of the tributaries is as follows: Swan Creek, installed and abandoned, 1; Turkey Creek, installed, 2. abandoned, 1, operating, 1; West Branch, installed, 11, abandoned, 6, operating, 5; North Branch, installed and operating, 1. Total for Big Blue basin, i. e., for the river, and tributaries: installed, 36, abandoned, 14, operating, 22.
     There is now some talk of diverting water from the Platte at a. point southwest of Grand Island to branches of the Big Blue to boost the powers now operated. This could be done because the heads of these tributaries are only a few feet above the Platte. Also, Platte water could be diverted to Salt Creek by way of Lincoln and used for power and city water supply. However, this Platte diversion, unless it is from the ground water would be available only part of the year, and it would be necessary to battle with a heavy load of silt and sand.
     The Republican River heads on the table lands of Colorado, enters Nebraska in Dundy county and flows eastward to Nuckolls county where it turns southward to Kansas and the "Kaw." It occupies prairie land and agricultural areas in Nebraska. The valley is comparatively narrow and between 200 and 400 feet deep. The valley floor is divided between the flood plain proper and well-defined benches. The slope land is gradual to rough with stone exposed at places. The soil ranges between sandy loam and silt loam, but shows small areas of clay loam. The Republican River fluctuates markedly in discharge.

     The flow may cease at places during periods of drouth. Floods and ice gorges do some damage.
The Republican is joined by a number of spring-fed streams issuing from sandy deposits below the loses. These streams are comparatively uniform in discharge. They are used for stock water, rural and town supply, irrigation and power. The principal tributary of the Republican is the Frenchman, from which much water is drawn for irrigation and power.
Powers have been installed and operated in the Republican at or near Arapaho, Oxford, Orleans, Alma, Franklin, Red Cloud, Guide Rock and Superior. Only the first and last named of these remain, the others having been torn out by high water. The Southern Nebraska Power Company plant at Superior is the largest in the Republican
basin.
     Powers are operated in the tributaries of the Republican at or near Amboy, Inavale, Bloomington, Naponee, Cambridge, Curtis, Maywood, Palisade, Hamlet, Wauneta and Champion (two), and there are abandonments at or near Franklin, Republican City, Stamford, Beaver City, Wilsonville, Danbury, Arapahoe, Stockville, Red Willow and Palisade, and on Sappa Creek at a point south of Beaver City. The record for the Republican Basin is--installed, 35, abandoned, 21, operating, 14.
     White River is fed by branches heading principally in the Pine Ridge of Sioux, Dawes and Sheridan counties. The main branch starts southeast of Harrison and flows past Andrews, Glen and Crawford. The small streams joining on the south are Ash, Indian,' Dead Horse, Chadron, Bordeaux and Beaver. Their cool, swift, water afford trout fishing, and are used for stock water, by rural homes and for irrigation. The city of Chadron is supplied from a reservoir and underground water in Chadron valley. The past few years, a large irrigation project was built to draw from White River tributaries near Whitney.
     Five powers were installed in White River and its tributaries but all of them have been abandoned.

     Missouri and its, small tributaries--installed, 57, abandoned, 55, operating, 2.
     Niobrara drainage--installed, 44, abandoned, 38, operating, 6.
     Elkhorn drainage--installed, 22, abandoned. 17, operating; 5.
     Loup drainage--installed, 87, abandoned, 26, operating, 11.
     Platte drainage--installed, 37, abandoned, 81, operating, 6.
     Big Blue drainage--installed, 36, abandoned, 14, operating, 22.
     Little Blue drainage--installed, 15, abandoned, 10, operating, 5.
     Republican drainage--installed, 35, abandoned, 21, operating, 14.
     White River drainage--installed, 5, abandoned, 5, operating, 0.
     Grand total for state--installed, 289 (2 in Wyoming), abandoned, 218, operating, 71 (2 in Wyoming).

     These figures should not be wrongly interpreted because nearly all the abandonments are of small, pioneer projects, and because there has been a greater development of water power the past few years than during any other short period in the history of the state.

     Conservation prevents waste and promotes development for the most beneficial use. Thus far, much of the water of the state has gone to waste. This should not continue, for there is little fuel except what is shipped in. The state is rich in agriculture, but relatively weak in manufacture and commerce. Industry follows cheap power and the state has water resources with which to develop power under efficient management. There has been a rapid development of water power the past few years notwithstanding the fact that of the 289 powers installed only 71 are now operating (2 in Wyoming).
     Certain advancements of recent years make possible the utilization of rivers like the Niobrara, Loup and the Lower Platte. Among the advancements are concrete construction, canalization, long distance transmission and a knowledge of how to divert and handle ice and sandladen streams. These improvements enhance the water power possibilities. However, it should be recognized that most of our streams are too small for economic long distance transmission. They are better suited for local development, and there is little demand for power at some of the places best suited for development.
     The further conservation of the Loup, North Platte, and the lower Platte deserves attention. These rivers are quite well located for the distribution of power. Their power could be carried to a large rural and urban population. It might be used to; light city and country and to drive the machinery of industries. These things are desirable and attainable, but there is lack of agreement regarding the method of procedure. The public is interested in the matter only in a general way and all who have anything to do with the subject receive more or less criticism from some sources, whether justly or not. The discussion is from two points of view--of the state and of private interests, and not enough on the basis of survey, industry, sound finance, and public welfare.

     This group of natural assets has much greater importance than is generally supposed, yet for years wild life has been destroyed without regard to the consequences. During the past few years the people have begun to realize the value of wild life resources, and have made some progress in their development and conservation. The Izaak Walton League has been an important factor in this progress.
     Attention! There are a number of animals that serve continually and successfully and which the people destroy without regard for their usefulness. They are those which keep down insects, mice, gophers

and rats. Most of the song birds, the quail, several of the hawks, the owls, toads, bats and some of the snakes are of this group. They should be protected and conserved because they assist in maintaining a biological balance necessary for agricultural development.
     Among the wild life resources of economic importance, aside from the animals which maintain the biological balance, are the native grasses, forest, wild fruits, game and fur-bearing animals.
Prairie Resources. About 85 per cent of the state is in the native sod, on which grasses form the main cover. Among the valuable wild grasses are blue stem, brome grass, grama grass, wheat grass, slough grass, red top and blue grass. The blue stems, grama grasses and wheat grasses support grazing and produce hay.
     Soil and Grasses. There are noticeable differences in the grass cover on the various kinds of land. For example, the growth is short and hard as a rule, on the dry, hard land soils, and taller and more tender where there is a large amount of moisture. Slough grass and blue stems occupy damp ground. Buffalo and grama grasses are adapted to the drier hard land soils. Species of redfieldia and other blowout grasses occur on blown, sandy ground. Hence the grass cover varies in density and quality and therefore in its value for grazing and hay. Grass improvement is the big conservation problem in parts of Nebraska.
The prairie areas of Nebraska contain several herbaceous and woody plants, some of them being only weeds. Among the herbaceous plants are shoe string, wild licorice, rosebush, soap weed, buck brush and sage brush. These, though having some grazing value, are less desirable than the fattening grasses.
     Improvement of Grasses. Grass lands can be improved without plowing, as by keeping out fires when the seeds would be destroyed or roots would be damaged; by seeding on sod, and by conservative grazing. Prairie meadows of the sandhills have been improved by seeding with timothy, sweet clover, white clover, alsike clover and blue grass.
Technical management of the prairie cleans out weeds and makes grass and hay of uniform quality. The desirable new grasses increase the value of the land for grazing and hay production, and it matters little whether grass and hay come from the wild or from the so-called cultivated varieties, so long as they serve well in the production of beef. Some of the best results secured by good management of prairie hay land are at Bassett, Newport, O'Neill, Valley, Schuyler, Clarks, Central City and North Platte.
     Prairie and Agriculture. There is prejudice against prairie. A soil covered with native sod is said to be "raw" or "unimproved," whereas the same soil, if plowed, is said to be "improved." The fact is that some soils are damaged, not improved by plowing and cultivation. Much of the original prairie land suited to farming has given way to successful agriculture in which much labor is required to carry on the

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