THE FAEGO CLAY LOAM. 11 



both the acreage available for spring-wheat production and the aver- 

 age yields per acre. 



Xext to the acreage of spring wheat that of the wild grasses on 

 the unbroken prairie, occupying areas not sufficiently well drained 

 for crop production, constitutes the principal area, particularly in the 

 Red River Valley. The areas of wild grass are extensively used for 

 the pasturage of beef cattle, to a limited extent for the pasturage of 

 dairy cows, and to a considerable extent for the cutting of wild hay. 

 In practically all locations where poorly drained areas have remained 

 undisturbed since the first occupation of the region the native prairie 

 grasses and the wild marsh grasses still cover the ground. They 

 afford excellent pasturage and a fair hay crop of medium quality, 

 averaging from 1 ton to 1J tons per acre in the ordinary season. The 

 existence of these natural grazing areas in conjunction with much 

 larger -tracts of arable land would seem to indicate the possibili- 

 ties of the Fargo clay loam for the establishment of the dairy in- 

 dustry and the production of beef cattle in the general region. In 

 fact, dairying has already gained a foothold upon the farms chiefly 

 occupied by the type in southern Minnesota and in South Dakota. 

 To a limited extent dairying is also being introduced upon the Fargo 

 clay loam in the Red River Valley section. There is an excellent 

 opportunity for its growth and extension. 



Among the other crops produced upon the Fargo clay loam the 

 oat crop occupies the largest acreage. Barley is also an important 

 crop. Both oats and barley are frequently used as a catch crop when 

 the weather conditions have been unfavorable for the preparation of 

 the land for spring wheat. In case the land can not be put in shape 

 sufficiently early in the season for the production of that crop, a con- 

 siderable acreage is then devoted to oats and barley. The yield of 

 oats in all of the areas where the Fargo clay loam has been mapped 

 is fair, ranging from 25 to 40 bushels per acre, with an average yield 

 a little more than 30 bushels per acre. The yield of barley is also 

 good, ranging from 20 to 30 bushels per acre, with an average of 

 about 25 bushels. Flax constitutes another important crop, which is 

 grown principally for the production of seed, although In some 

 localities the fiber is also used. The acreage of flax is usually subor- 

 dinate to that of oats, although greater than that of barley. For the 

 production of flax new land is usually preferred, and the crop is 

 grown for two or three years in succession until a diminution in 

 yields results. It is then followed by wheat and the other grain 

 crops, while the freshly broken land is taken for the production of 

 flax. The yield per acre is quite variable, ranging from 5 or 6 

 bushels upon the older land to 12 or 15 bushels upon fresh land, with 

 an average of 10 c.- 11 bushels per acre for the entire area devoted to 

 this crop. 



