B. P. I.-«62. 



AGRICULTURE IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE 

 SEMIARID PORTION OF THE GREAT PLAINS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Since the earliest period of settlement in this country the surplus 

 population has migrated westward. This movement will doubtless 

 continue till all the varied resources of the West are as fully utilized 

 as their respective values warrant — till the return for efforts expended 

 and the advantages to be obtamed are balanced with those of other 

 parts of the country. The relative profitableness and agreeableness 

 of agricultural enterprises in different sections are by no means stable 

 quantities. For this reason there must always be more or less shifting 

 of population, but this shifting will naturally grow less as the whole 

 country becomes more fully occupied and its possibilities more fully 

 developed. 



Agriculture, like every other human activity, is not dependent 

 upon natural surroundings alone, but is changed and swayed by 

 every change in economic conditions. Factors in agriculture may be 

 divided into two classes, natural and artificial. Over most natural 

 forces man has little or no control. Artificial factors are produced 

 and controlled by man, though not necessarily by the individual. 

 Natural conditions are the results of forces so superhuman that man 

 may not even hope to change or modify them. All he may hope to 

 do is to fit himself to meet those conditions and prosper under them 

 by learning to counteract the adverse effects, to supplement defi- 

 ciencies, and to make the most of every favor nature grants. 



Climate and soil are the total natural agricultural resources of any 

 country. Favorable conditions with respect to both are absolutely 

 necessary to successful crop production. A fertile soil is essential, 

 yet an uifertile soil may be built up and improved; but a fertile soil 

 is absolutely useless without a favorable climate. '^Wliat a nation 

 shall raise depends upon the climate of the region in which that nation 

 happens to be located, and what is produced influences the laws, 

 habits, and customs of the people. North America owes more to its 

 variety of climate than to its variety of soil. A temperate climate, 

 92597°— Bui. 215—11 2 7 



