22 



estimate as to what portion is watered. Along the North Platte 

 irrigation is necessary for the raising of crops, so that a considerable 

 portion of the land under ditch is watered. Below the junction 

 crops can be raised without irrigation in most years, and some of 

 the large canals, although they cover extended areas, supply very little 

 water for irrigation. 



Along the North Platte, in Colorado, the chief crop is native hay. 

 Owing to altitude few other crops can be raised. Hay was the first 

 crop grown in Wyoming, also, but in recent years diversified farm- 

 ing has been constantly gaining ground, until from Casper to the 

 State line the crops are of the same general character as those grown 

 along the South Platte. Along the Laramie, in Colorado, and on 

 the Laramie Plains the crops irrigated are chiefly native hay and 

 alfalfa, although some grain and vegetables are raised on the Lara- 

 mie Plains. At Wheatland general farm cro])s are grown, including 

 silfalfa, grain, corn, and potatoes. Experiments have been made 

 with sugar beets, showing that they can be successfully grown here. 

 In Nebraska general farm crops and some small fruits are raised. 

 Potatoes have become an important crop in this section, and some 

 sugar beets also are grown. Along the main river below th(> junc- 

 tion large areas of corn are raised, usually without irrigation, but in 

 some seasons corn is watered. 



It will be seen that conditions along the North Platte differ widely 

 from those on the South Platte. Near the base of the mountains on 

 the South Platte and its tributaries agriculture has reached a very 

 advanced stage of development, while along its lower reaches the 

 lands are now being reclaimed, and low-priced crojis are chiefly 

 raised. On the upper sections of the North Platte the low-priced 

 crops are grown, while the more highly developed agriculture is 

 found on the lower reaches of the stream. Nowhere on the North 

 Platte, however, has agriculture reached such an advanced stage as 

 is found in places on the South Platte and its tributaries. 



The areas irrigated from the North Platte and tributaries are 

 reported as follows: 



Ai'eas irrigated from the North Platte River and tributaries. 



Acres. 



Colorado 157, 965 



• Wyoming 413, 000 



Nebraska 338, 220 



Total 900, 185 



On the main river below the confluence the area under ditch is 

 reported by the State board of irrigation as 179,440 acres. 



Few records of the flow of the North Platte and its tributaries have 

 been made. No records of the flow in Colorado have been kept. A 



