10 FIELD OPEEATIONS OF THE BUEEAU OF SOILS,, 1916. 



is 15,680 acres in wheat in 1915,^ Both winter and spring wheat 

 are grown, winter wheat occupying the greater acreage. The win- 

 ter wheat is principally the Turkey Red variety and the spring 

 wheat principally the durum. The yields have shown wide varia- 

 tions in the last 10 years, ranging from less than 6 to as much as 

 35 bushels per acre. It seems to be the general experience that the 

 winter wheat slightly exceeds the spring wheat in yield. 



Corn is generally grown on the upland as a feed crop for use on 

 the farm. The 1910 census reports 3,083 acres in corn, but the 

 Nebraska State Board of Agriculture reports a total of 5,960 acres 

 in 1915.^ The yields are very uncertain and show wide variations 

 through a period of years, ranging from practically complete fail- 

 ures to 25 to 30 bushels per acre. Both dent and flint corn are 

 grown. The varieties grown produce smaller stalks and smaller 

 ears than those of the eastern part of the State. The ^^liite Cap 

 Dent seems to be one of the most successful varieties, and good yields 

 have been obtained from Blueflower Flint and other varieties of 

 this class. 



A small acreage of emmer is grown in the county. This crop is 

 seeded principally in the spring, although occasionally small fields 

 of winter emmer are planted. 



Oats are grown on practically all the farms operated by the 

 owners, and the crop ranks as one of the most important of the 

 county. The area in oats in 1915 is reported as 7,090 acres.^ The 

 1910 census reports 5.581 acres in this crop. The grain yields are 

 very uncertain, but in the most favorable years 40 to 50 bushels per 

 acre are obtained, and a considerable part of the crop is marketed. 

 Very frequently the grain fails to mature, and the crop is cut for 

 forage where the thickness of the stand and height of the plants war- 

 rant the labor. Swedish Select is probably the principal variety 

 grown, although other varieties, principall}^ the Kherson, are being 

 grown experimentally. 



Eye is sown in the fall and in early spring. The area in rye in 

 1915 is estimated as 2,202 acres. The greater part of the crop is 

 thrashed for the grain, but it is also used to some extent for hay and 

 pasturage. The crop seems to have about the same soil and climatic 

 adaptation as wheat. 



Alfalfa is of local importance as a hay and forage crop. There is 

 an estimated total of about 1,200 acres in the county. The crop is 

 grown principally on irrigated land, but also to some extent on the 

 dry-land farms. The yields under irrigation vary from 2 to 4 tons 

 per acre per season. On the upland alfalfa is both planted in rows 

 and cultivated, and seeded broadcast, the yields being considerably 



» Annual Report, Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, 1915. 



