SOIL SURVEY OF KIMBALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA. H 



less than on the irrigated hincl. The quality of the alfalfa grown in 

 the county is good. 



Millet is one of the principal forage crops. Its acreage is probably 

 a little greater than that of alfalfa, but its money value is lower. 

 Siberian millet is the princii)al variety, and considerable hog millet, 

 or proso, also is grown. The 1910 census reports a total of 3,871 acres 

 in tame or cultivated grasses and 5,657 acres in wild, salt, or prairie 

 grasses. 



Irish potatoes constitute one of the special cash crops of the county. 

 This crop is groAvn principally under irrigation in the Lodgepole 

 Valley. The yields are commonly 150 to 175 bushels per acre. It 

 is estimated that about 1,000 acres are devoted to potatoes this year 

 (1916). 



Sugar beets also are an important special crop, on irrigated land. 

 The acreage at present is less than that of Irish potatoes. The yields 

 are 8 to 10 tons per acre, and the sugar content is satisfactory. The 

 tops are in local demand for stock feed. 



Barley is grown to a small extent, occupying a total of probably 

 000 to 400 acres. It is utilized as a feed crop on the farms. 



Flax is frequently grown as a first-year crop on sod land. There 

 is a small acreage of sorghums grown for forage, amber cane prob- 

 ably being the principal variety with which any success has thus 

 far been obtained. Cabbage and beans are minor special crops on 

 irrigated land, and the latter crop has been grown in an experimental 

 way with fair results on dry-land farms. Sweet clover is being tried 

 under dry-farming methods and gives some promise of being a profit- 

 able forage crop. 



Fruit has not yet been grown in sufficient quantity to supply even 

 the small local demand. The climate is too severe for most tree fruits, 

 injury resulting especially from the late spring frosts. Plum trees 

 are most certain of yielding fruit. Among the small fruits, goose- 

 berries and currants seem to give the best results. 



Common garden vegetables generally can not be grown successfully 

 except with irrigation. 



Stock raising is regarded as a profitable industry, although condi- 

 tions at present are not favorable for carrying on ranching on an 

 extensive scale. Cattle rank first in number, followed by horses and 

 sheep. Most of the stock raising is done in combination with farm- 

 ing, each farmer commonly leasing from one to three unoccupied sec- 

 tions for pasture. The native pasture ordinarily supports one cow 

 or steer on 20 or 30 acres, and the forage grown on the farm with 

 some wild hay is sufficient to carry the stock through the winter. 



Small numbers of cattle, sheep, and hogs are fed for market in 

 good crop years. Alfalfa is the principal feed crop, while corn, bar- 



