34 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1919. 



the heads of streams in the south-central part of the county. The 

 general direction of the drainage is southeast. Even in the almost 

 flat situations there is sufficient slope to afford an outlet for the 

 surface water, and the porous subsoil and substratum insure ample 

 underdrainage. 



The type is a very important agricultural soil. It is one of the 

 best dry-land farming soils in the county. About 40 per cent of 

 it is under cultivation, and the rest is used for pasture and hay land. 

 The native vegetation includes grama grass, buffalo grass, wire 

 grass, western wheat grass, and blackroot. The most important 

 cultivated crops are wheat, potatoes, r3^e, oats, and corn. Wheat 

 occupies the largest acreage and is the chief cash crop ; much of the 

 rye produced is also sold. The corn and oats are fed to work horses. 

 Potatoes are not grown so extensively as in some of the other counties 

 of western Nebraska, although the soil is well adapted to their 

 production. After supplying home needs they are sold in the local 

 markets. A relatively small acreage of corn is planted, on account 

 of the shortness of the growing season. The greater part of the 

 type is included in stock farms and ranches, on which beef cattle, 

 principally grade Herefords and Shorthorns are grazed. Dairying 

 is not practiced commercially, though a few milk cows are kept on 

 nearly every farm, and many farmers have a surplus of dairy prod- 

 ucts for sale. The land supports 40 to 60 head of cattle per square 

 mile the year around. 



Corn yields 10 to 40 bushels of grain, with an average of about 

 20 bushels per acre. When cut for fodder, from 1 to 4 tons are ob- 

 tained. Wheat yields 8 to 30 bushels; potatoes, 50 to 150 bushels; 

 oats, 15 to 45 bushels ; and rye, 10 to 30 bushels per acre. Native hay 

 yields one-fourth to 1 ton per acre. The higher yields mentioned 

 are exceptional and obtained only in very favorable years. 



The Rosebud silt loam, when properly managed, can easily be kept 

 in good tilth and is an excellent soil for dry farming. Under present 

 methods of cultivation it retains sufficient moisture to insure good 

 crops, except in seasons of prolonged drought. When plowed wet 

 there is a slight tendency to clod, but the clods are easily reduced. 

 Little or no attention is given to crop rotation as the soil is new and 

 in no immediate danger of becoming exhausted. The land is usually 

 ploAved every second or third year. Small grains are generally 

 sowed with a drill on disked corn or stubble land, and corn usually 

 follows small grain, although it is often planted on newly-broken 

 sod. The corn is listed as the moisture conditions are better than 

 when planted in check rows on a level surface. 



The selling price of the Rosebud silt loam ranges from $50 to $75 

 an acre, depending upon improvement and location. 



