312 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



not fouud to be subject to mncli disease. The hog thrives, and with coru plentiful, 

 the " bog-crop" yields well. As a general remark, the cosb of raising stock here is a 

 minimum; and, as there is a command of markets, fair prices can be obtained. 



Question 5. Time of planting the various crops ; and time of haf vesting ? 



Ansicer. Crops are of rapid growth, and rapid ripening. Spring-wheat is generally 

 sown at the latter part of February, and corn is planted in April. But corn may be 

 planted much later ; and in the land-office at Lincoln of the Burlington and Missouri 

 River Railroad Company, there are now four heads of corn which weigh 3 pounds 2 

 ounces. These are average specimens of a croxj planted on the 27th of June, and har- 

 vested in perfect condition before frost. The ground for fall- wheat is prepared, and 

 the seed sown, by the middle of Sepember. 



Question 6. Character of your winters; amount of snow aud rain-fall? 



Ansiver. Rain-fall in the section is given in answer 1. The ordinary average winter 

 extends over three months — December, January, and February ; and the entire fall of 

 snow does not exceed 10 inches. The heaviest snow-falls of which we have experience 

 are from 4 to 5 inches. 



Question 7. What has been done in the way of tree-planting, and varieties best 

 adapted to your section ? 



Answer. The annual prairie-fires have, as a rule, prevented the growth of timber away 

 from the ravines of water-courses. In these ravines, however, wood grows luxuriantly; 

 and the timber-skirtings of the rivers and creeks include cotton-wood, many varieties 

 of oak, elm, white ash, hackberry — a tree resembling the ash, but not free in splitting — 

 black walnut, coffee-tree, sycamore, and wild plum. The wild grape-vine is also abun- 

 dant. But for the fires, by natural processes, the prairies would be timbered, and in 

 many bottom-lauds, where for two or three years settlement has checked the fires, 

 there is ash aud cotton-wood brush which, in due course, will become wood.* Planting 

 is also proceeding, though not so rapidly as is to be desired. However, last year, 

 (1871,) one farmer planted no fewer than 120,000 trees ; and very many farmers show a 

 disposition to surround their homesteads with Avind-breaks. By an act approved Feb- 

 ruary 12, 1869, the State of Nebraska exempts " from taxation of the property of each 

 tax-payer who shall, within the State, plant aud suitably cultivate one or more acres of 

 forest-trees for timber, the sum of $100 annuallj^ for five years, for each acre so planted 

 and cultivated," provided the trees do not exceed 12 feet apart, and are kept in a 

 healthy aud growing condition. Cotton-wood, which grows rapidly, is the favorite for 

 groves ; and the records show that these trees in ten years' growth have attained 

 height varying from 25 to 50 feet, and circumference varying from 2 feet 5 inches to 4 

 feet. The Osage orange is preferred for fences and wind-breaks, though there are some 

 planters A^ho give choice to the honey-locust. Other suitable fence-plants, as the wil- 

 low and whitethorn, are- used, though more rarely. Induced thereto by the lack of 

 timber, and the premium for its cultivation offered by the State, it is certain that the 

 farmers of the section will more and more make the growth of wood an object. The 

 Danish residents at Omaha have formed a tree-planting company ; and this company 

 intends to plant 2,5(50 acres of suitable soil, within the limits of this section, in the 

 southwestern corner of Adama County. The company proposes fruit (for which, by 

 the act already quoted, property to the amount of .^50 annually is exempted from tax- 

 ation for five years, for each acre planted and cultivated) as well as forest tree cul- 

 ture. The fruit is to consist chiefly of grape-vines, peaches, and apples; and the forest 

 trees principally of evergreens. The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company 

 has now a contract out for the planting of twenty-seven miles of cuts on the north side 

 of the railroad, from the Missouri River, at Plattsmouth, to Kearney Junction. t Front- 

 ing the north, along these cuts, there will be seven rows of trees arranged thus : ex- 

 treme north row, honey -locust; second row, cotton-wood aud willow ; third row, maple, 

 ash, and box-elder ; fourth row, jSTorway spruce and Scotch fir ; and the three inner 

 rows, European larch. One main object of this planting is to furnish ties for the rail- 

 road ; .but it is also hoped that the operation will encourage settlers to imitate the 

 example. 



Question 8. What are the kinds aud cost of fencing used on the prairies ? What has 

 been done in the way of planting hedges ? 



Ansu-er. This question is in great measure answered in the reply to question 7; but 

 it may be stated that fencing is not a rapid process. When boards are used the work 

 is costly, and therefore there is not much of that kind of fencing. Sod-fences occasionally 

 occur, the sod being taken up on breaking. A strong and durable fence can be con- 

 structed with this material, with no expense save that incurred in piling the sod in 

 due form and order. This class of fence seems to be suited for partial use on the prai- 



* I found this to be true not only at points in Eastern Nebraska, but also in South- 

 eastern Dakota, and in Minnesota, but it only applies to the rain-moistened distisicts, 

 and sections but slightly grazed, for cattle, &c., are about as destructive to the young 

 plants as fires. — T. 



t The Northern Pacific Raihoad is adopting the same plan. — T. 



