SOIL

     The unrivalled [sic] fertility of her soil, places Nebraska in the front rank among the great grain producing States of the Union. The soil of the table and up-land is composed of what is known as the Lacustrine or Loess deposit, which is the most valuable for agricultural purposes. This deposit prevails over more than three-fourths of the surface of the State, and is of uniform color, it ranges in thickness from 5 to 150 feet, and in some places in the northeastern Counties it is even 200 feet thick.

     Prof. Samuel Aughey, State Geologist, recently made an analysis of this soil, taken from different parts of the State, for the purpose of showing the chemical properties and homogenous character of the lacustrine deposits, which is given in the following table, with accompanying remarks from the Professor's pen. No. 1 is from Douglas County; No. 2 from the bluffs near Kearney, in Buffalo County; No. 3 is from the Loup; No. 4 from Clay County, and No. 5 from Harlan County, in the Republican Valley.

LXXVI

     "From the above it is seen that over eighty per cent. of this formation is silicious matter, and so finely comminuted is it that the grains can only be seen under a good microscope. So abundant are the carbonates and phosphates of lime, that in many places they form peculiar rounded and oval concretions, vast numbers of these concretions, from the size of a shot to a walnut, are found almost everywhere by turning over the sod, and in excavations. When first exposed they are soft enough to be rubbed fine between the fingers, but they gradually harden by exposure to the open air. The analysis show the presence of a comparatively large amount of iron, besides alumina, soda, potash, etc.

     "As would be expected from its elements, it forms one of the richest and most tillable soils in the world. In fact, in its chemical and physical properties, and the mode of its origin, it comes nearest to the Loess of the Rhine and the Valley of Egypt. It can never be exhausted until every hill and valley which composes it is entirely worn away. Owing to the wonderfully finely comminuted silica of which the bulk of the deposit consists, it possesses natural drainage in the highest degree. However great the floods of water that fall, it soon percolates through this soil, which in its lowest depths, retains it like a sponge. When droughts come, by capillary attraction, the moisture comes up from below, supplying the needs of vegetation in the dryest seasons. This is the reason why all over this region, where this deposit prevails, the native vegetation and cultivated crops are seldom either dried out or drowned out. This is especially the case on old breaking and where deep plowing is practiced.

     "This deposit is a paradise for fruits, especially the apple, plum, grape, and all the small fruits of the temperate zone. They luxuriate in a soil like this, which has perfect natural drainage and is composed of such materials."

     The alluvium deposits are the next most important after the Loess or Lacustrine. From an analysis made of the bottom lands, it appears that, chemically, alluvium differs from the lacustrine cheifly [sic] in having more organic matter and alumina and less silica. The following analysis of bottom soils, by Prof. Aughey, will give an idea of their physical character. The first is from the

Elkhorn, the second from the Platte, the third from the Republican, the fourth from the Blue, and the fifth from an exceptionally wet and sticky soil near Dakota City:

     The depth of this soil varies greatly, it often being twenty feet or more in thickness, then again the sand of the sub-soil is reached at a depth of two or three feet. Most of the bottom lands are well drained and are dry and warm, while some are low and cold, and in wet seasons, difficult to work. The bottom lands are the richest in organic matter, and are generally preferred for the raising of corn and vegetables, while the table and rolling lands are selected as the best adapted to small grain, fruits, etc. Yet after many years' experience in the cultivation of these lands the question of the superiority of the one over the other, for general farming purposes, remains undecided. Bottom lands are so well distributed throughout the State, that in the choice of a farm, usually a portion of both bottom and upland is selected.

     Alkali lands are to be found in different sections of the State, but chiefly in the western portion. In the east half there are scarcely any such lands, the majority of the Counties having none at all, while in others there may be only a small spot in a township so affected. These alkali lands, however, are often renovated and eventually made productive for the cereals, by thorough drainage, deep cultivation, and seeding with wheat, especially in the wet seasons.

     The following analysis of these alkali soils, by Prof. Aughey, shows how variable they are. The first was taken from the Platte Bottom, south of North Platte; the second from near Fort Kearney, and the third two miles west of Lincoln:

AGRICULTURE.

     Nebraska is essentially an agricultural State, the bountiful soil, mildness of the climate, and the long seasons of growth, are especially favorable to the cereal crops, and, in fact, to all of the products of the temperate zone, nearly all of which are grown here to perfection, and attain a size and quality seldom found in the older States.

     With the exception of the Republican River Counties, agriculture is confined as yet almost wholly to the east half of the State, the 100th meridian being the dividing line; but there are many large districts west of this which will become, in the near future, valuable as farming lands.

     Wheat is always a sure crop, with proper cultivation, the average yield per acre being about eighteen bushels, although in many of the western Counties the yield is frequently from twenty-five to thirty bushels per acre, and seldom less than twenty. The grain is of a superior quality, with a full, plump berry, usually weighing from sixty-two to sixty-seven pounds per bushel.

     The following table will show the wheat crops for the past nine years, as reported by the Assessors:

     The Assessors' returns for 1878 are very incomplete, several of the leading wheat growing Counties not reporting at all, so that it would be safe to estimate the wheat crop for that year at 12,000,000 bushels.

     The figures for 1879 cannot be given, as no returns have yet been received from the Counties for that year; but the acreage in wheat was much larger than in preceding years, and the yield uniformly large.

     The following are a few of the leading wheat growing Counties for 1878, according to reports made to the State Board of Agriculture:

     The climate of Nebraska is better adapted to spring wheat, and very little winter wheat is grown on account of the open character of the winters.

     Corn grows to perfection on the bottoms, tables, or uplands, and is one of the most profitable crops to the farmer. The yield for 1879 will average at least forty bushels to the acre throughout the State, and the quality is of the very highest grade. No State in the Union excels Nebraska in the production of corn, the soil and climate alike being well adapted to its growth.

     In some localities, or where the cultivation has been more than common, the yield often runs from fifty to one hundred bushels per acre.

     The following statement will show the acreage in corn and the number of bushels raised during the past three years:

     More than a dozen of the older Counties have failed to report to the Board of Agriculture for 1878, hence the small returns for that year.

     The following Counties show the largest corn crop for 1878:

     It is estimated that the corn crop for 1878 will reach 45,000,000 bushels, and for the present year, 1879, in the neighborhood of 50,000,000 bushels.

     Oats are a successful and profitable crop. The yield usually ranges from thirty to seventy bushels per acre, according to culture and location, the average being about forty bushels.

     The following Counties return the largest oat crop for 1878:

     Barley is largely cultivated and is a paying crop. The grain is of fine quality, and the average yield about thirty bushels per acre.

     The barley crop from 1871 to 1877, inclusive, is reported as follows:

The Counties showing the largest crops of barley for 1878 are:

     Rye is grown in almost every County in the State and is an important and valuable crop, the yield ranging from eighteen to thirty-five bushels per acre. It makes an excellent winter pasturage, and farmers with a large lot of stock frequently sow it as much on that account as for the grain.

     The following eight Counties show the largest yield of rye for 1878.

     Flax is rapidly becoming an important product in Nebraska. The soil is admirably adapted to its culture, and the yield averages

© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 for NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, T&C Miller