CEEEAL EXPEEIMENTS OIST THE CHEYENNE EXPEEIMENT FAKM. 3 



The new settlers on these lands for the most part come from the 

 Central States. They come into an area that requires farming 

 methods different from those to which they are accustomed. They 

 are confronted by numerous and varied problems of crop adaptation 

 and production which are entirely new to them. Rehable im"orma- 

 tion on crops and farm practices is seriously needed. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 



The district outhned above hes to the east of the foothills of the 

 Rocky Mountains, at an elevation ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 feet. 

 The land is gently rolling. It slopes eastward from the foothills to 

 about 102° W. longitude, which may be called the eastern boundary 

 of the higher western Plains area. In this district the summers are 

 short and only short-season crops will mature. 



SOILS, 



The soils of the district are of varying types, ranging from light 

 sandy loam to a very heavy impervious clay loam. They are under- 

 lain with gravel at some points and with hardpan at others. The 

 humus content of the soil generally is low over the entire district. 

 The soil in many locaUties is very light and subject to drifting, while 

 in other locahties it is very heavy and difficult to work. In general, 

 however, the soil is fairly easy to work and is rich in plant food 

 elements. While it is low in humus content, crop yields are usually 

 good when the moisture supply is not too limited. 



VEGETATION. 



The native grass vegetation of southeastern Wyoming consists 

 largely of buffalo grass (Bulhilis dadyloides) , blue grama (Bouteloua 

 oligostachya) , western wheat-grass (Agropyron smitJiii, formerly A. 

 occidentale) , and httle bluestem {Andropogon scoparius). These are 

 common grasses of much of the Great Plains area. They are drought 

 resistant, nutritious, and well suited for grazing purposes. 



The most abundant native legumes are TJiermopsis divaricarpa, 

 milk vetch {Astragalus rulsurgens and A. hisulcatus), narrow-leaved 

 vetch ( Vida linearis) , and lupine (Lujnnus pusillus) . Some vetches 

 and lupines when green are considered poisonous to animals, but are 

 not believed to be poisonous when cured. 



Jlussian thistle (Salsola tragus), Canada thistle {Oarduus arvensis), 

 yellow mustard (Brassica, and Sisynhhrium, spp.), and tumbleweeds 

 (Arn/iranthus spp.) are among the most common weeds, particularly 

 on land wlu^re the native sod has been broken. 



CLIMATE. 



There are at least ihvcv. distinct climatic- fiictors that, influence 

 directly or indirectly f be yields of crops in seiniai-id n^gions. These 

 arc (1) precipitation, particularly the distribution of the rainfall; (2) 



