CROPS. 



17 



The following tables, taken from the Twelfth Census report, give 

 the available statistics for irrigation in Nebraska: 



Table IV. — Number of acres irrigated, by counties, 1899. 



County. 



Acres. 



County. 



Acres. 



County. 



Acres. 



Buffalo 



1,393 

 21, 288 



4,027 

 20, 097 

 11, 794 



4, 552 



Holt 



Keith 



2,218 

 12, 646 



4, 225 

 22, 508 



1,488 

 1,542 



Scotts Bluff 



29,244 





Sioux 



1,433 

 10,083 







All other counties. . 





Lincoln 



Dawson 



148, 538 





Platte 







Redwillow 











Table V. — Acreage of crops produced on irrigated land, 1899. 



Crop. 



Acres. 



Crop. 



Acres. 



Crop. 



Acres. 





33, 078 



14, 143 



5,090. 



940 



741 



10 



47,890 



868 



Alfalfa or lucern 



22, 172 

 47 



206 



892 



417 



126 



1,075 



Sweet potatoes 



5 



Wheat 



68 



Oats 



Other tame and cul- 

 tivated grasses 



Grains cut green for 

 bay i 



Miscellaneous vege- 







651 



Rye 



Dry peas 



2 







7 







1,234 

 64 



Millet and Hungarian 



















Most of the irrigation is along the Platte River, from Dawson County 

 to the western border of the State, and is maintained by ditches from 

 the rivers. A few acres are irrigated by windmills and wells (843 

 acres in 1899). 



It follows that in the western portion of the State, aside from the 

 comparatively insignificant irrigated areas, the principal industry is 

 stock raising. The herds are allowed to graze all summer and a con- 

 siderable portion of the winter upon the open grassy plains or range. 

 The wandering of the herds is usually limited principally by access to 

 water. 



Stock raising is also an important industry in the eastern portion of 

 the State, but the amount of open range is becoming much reduced. 

 On the other hand, on account of the greater rainfall and other condi- 

 tions favorable for growing forage crops, the same area will support 

 more stock than in the western portion. 



The principal field crops grown in Nebraska, arranged according to 

 their value, are corn, wheat, oats, hay and forage, potatoes, and vege- 

 tables. 



23059— No. 59—04 2 



