4 
COLORADO EXPERIMENT STATION 
ADVICE TO PLAINS SETTLERS. 
BY J. E. PAYNE * 
We recognize it as a fact that many new settlers have taken up 
residence in the Plains region during the last few months who have 
merely enough capital to put up houses, break a few acres of sod, and 
live during the first six months. 
The people cannot wait for results promised by the exploiters 
of “Scientific Soil Culture.” They must have results this season. It 
is to this class of people that we would address the following sug¬ 
gestions : 
First. If you have a milch cow give her the best care possible, 
and get as many more as you can. Sell cream, or make good butter or 
cheese. Sod cowhouses are within the reach of all who can work. 
Second. Keep as many hens as you can take care of. Feed well 
and protect from coyotes and other beasts of prey. If you can raise 
turkeys and geese they will pay. Turkeys and geese may be herded by 
children, and turkeys are the best grasshopper exterminators known. 
Third. For field crops on sod, plant early amber cane, yellow 
Milo maize and corn. The seed used should be grown in the vi¬ 
cinity if possible, if not, choose some early variety. If you are able 
to do so, prepare a small field for fall wheat. 
Fourth. Plant a garden. If you have no well, plant a small 
plat near the house and water it with the waste water. Bury every drop 
of waste water beside some vegetable by making a furrow beside the 
plants and after the water has sunk away fill the furrow with dry 
dirt. Old tin cans sunk in the ground by the side of hills of cucumbers 
aid in watering them economically. Punch holes in the bottoms of 
the cans. 
If you have a well, plant a large garden but plant all garden stuff 
in rows so that it may be cultivated with horse power. Use the 
water with the same economy that you would if using only waste water. 
Never flood the ground purposely. If any should be flooded, stir it 
thoroughly as soon as it is dry enough. 
It is a common mistake with beginners in irrigation to try to make 
water take the place of cultivation. The result is failure. Another 
*The writer has fought grasshoppers and drought in Eastern Colorado 
for many years. Besides early training in Kansas, he was in charge of work 
on the Plains for the Colo^^ado Experiment Station from 1896 to 1904, as 
Supe’-intendent of the Sub-station at Cheyenne Wells, and as Field Agent 
for the Experiment Station. Is now in the employ of the U. S. Dena’*tment 
of Agriculture in the Dry Land Division, to be located at Akron, Colo. 
