2 BULLETIlSr 430^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



The results obtained at Archer are appHcable to a greater or less 

 extent to northeastern Colorado, western Nebraska, a narrow por- 

 tion of western South Dakota, and to eastern Wyoming. However, 

 the climatic conditions in any particular locality should be compared 

 carefully with those obtaining at Archer before the data are too 

 widely appHed. The elevation at Archer is as great and the climatic 

 conditions probably are as severe as in the other districts mentioned, 

 so that the results should be quite generally appHcable. 



This bulletin contains (1) a description of the district to which 

 the results apply, (2) a description of the Cheyenne Experiment Farm 

 and the scope and method of the experiments conducted there, and 

 (3) the results of these experiments mth different field crops and 

 cropping methods. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT. 



The district here described includes the plains of southeastern 

 Wyoming, western Nebraska, and northeastern Colorado. The re- 

 sults presented in this bulletin are believed to be generally appHcable 



to this district. 



HISTORY. 



The district was first used for stock grazing. It was the home of 

 ranchmen who owned or leased large areas of land. The ranches 

 were located on streams or springs, in order to have water available 

 for stock during the summer months. 



When Wyoming was admitted as a State in 1890, 4,042,160 acres 

 were granted by Congress for educational and other public purposes. 

 By a provision in a law approved in 1891 no State lands c,ould be 

 sold at less than $10 per acre. As a result of this law, up to 1902 

 only a Httle over 5,000 acres of State land had been sold. Mean- 

 time numerous provisions had been enacted for leasing the State 

 lands in order to secure some revenue from them. Leasing prices 

 ranged from 2 J to 25 cents per acre annuaUy, the price depending 

 on whether the land was accessible to water for stock or for irriga- 

 tion. The land leased readily and ranchmen became prosperous. 

 The high sale price of State lands and the large area leased, including 

 practically aU the natural watering places, have operated to keep 

 out the small dry-land farmer. The opposition of the ranchmen to 

 general farming is another factor that has retarded cereal production 

 in Wyoming. 



As the population increased and land prices became higher in the 

 Central States large numbers of people have continued to move 

 westward. This western migration, which has been especiaUy marked 

 during the past decade, has resulted in the settlement or home- 

 steading of large areas of the higher Plains region, formerly used for 

 grazing. 



