4 FOKAGE CROPS FOR THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 



redtop, Italian rye-grass, and perennial rye-grass were among the 

 most important crops tested in the wet-valley region. 



In the years 1909 and 1910 the tests were continued, in many cases 

 with the same cooperators, but on a larger scale than in 1908. The 

 plats varied from one-fourth of an acre to an acre in area, except 

 where reseeding experiments were conducted, in which case they were 

 usually much larger. The tests were inspected during the growing 

 season each }^ear, so that the behavior of the various crops was studied 

 at the most favorable time for determining their value. 



The results of these experiments, together with the data obtained 

 from the most successful farmers, have made it possible to make 

 some suggestions of a rather specific nature regarding the best 

 methods of improving forage-crop conditions in the sand-hill sec- 

 tion. While the suggestions and recommendations contained in this 

 circular must in a measure be considered as tentative on account of 



Fig. 1. — Map of Nebraska, showing the sand-hill section as indicated by Prof. Erwin 

 Hinckley Barbour in his geological map of that State. The space inclosed by the heavy 

 line shows the district affected by the Kinkaid homestead law. 



tlie newness of the problems, it is hoped that they will be of con- 

 siderable benefit to the farmers already in the sand hills and also 

 to prospective settlers. 



LOCATION OF THE SAND HILLS. 



The sand-hill section of Nebraska, as shown in the geological map 

 prepared by Prof. Erwin Hinckley Barbour, lies between 98° and 

 103° west longitude, and is bounded on the north by the Niobrara 

 River and on the southwest by the North Platte River. (Fig. 1.) 

 It includes practically all of the counties of Cherry, Garfield, Loup, 

 Blaine, Thomas, Hooker. Grant, McPherson, and Garden; about half 

 of Sheridan, Wheeler, Brown, Rock, and Logan ; and considerable areas 

 in Holt, Greeley, Valley, Custer, Lincoln, Keith, Morrill, Sioux, Per- 

 kins, Chase, and Dundy Counties. The space designated covers nearly 

 20,000 square miles, or about one-fourth the total area of the State. 



[Cir. 80] 



