P 666 .G23 lopv 1 t^ESOUt^CES, ADVAflTflGES DEVEliOP|VIENT. PrBPAREO and COMPmED BY JOS. GARNEAU, JR., Commissioner General, Nebraska Columbian Exhibit. 1893. REES PRINTINQ COl, OMAHA. NEBEASKA: HER Resources, Advantages, AND Development. F. NEBRASKA. Almost midway between the two g-reatest oceans of the world, its eastern boundary marked by the I'apid flowing- Missouri, the westernmost counties shadowed by the towering- ranges of the Rockies, with the land of the Dakotas to the north and the great agricultural state of Kansas to the south, lies the g-arden spot of that vast and shadowy country which but a few short years since was only known as "The Great American Desert.'' Today it is the State of Nebraska, the happy home of one million and a half of thrifty, industrious and prosperous people. In less than a third of a century — only a moment in the life of a nation — the rolling- j)rairies, the well watered valleys and the undulating- slopes of Nebraska have been reclaimed from the do- minion of the Indian and the stampedes of the buffalo. The early explorers who traversed the continent seem to have been blind to the possibility of a civiliza- tion between the Missouri River and the Golden Shores beyond the Rockies. Later on the gold seekers crossed the plains with their bull-trains and heeded not the unbroken land that asked only to be tickled with hoe to smile a harvest. Later ag-ain a few pioneers ventured to this un- known country and, notwithstanding- privations that now seem impossible to endure, they sent such g-lowing- accounts of Nebraska, as an agricultural paradise, that the g-reatest wave of immigration known in the history of America set in from east to west, and the Great American Desert became only a name and a tradition. The virgin soil of Nebraska proved from the begin- ning especially suitable for corn, and the early settler had a crop harvested in such a short time that the bounty of nature seemed to him to pass belief when he saw the marvelous result of his first labor. What one man did, so did another. Corn was crowned king of Nebraska, and in 1891 there were no less than four million six hundred thousand acres devoted to his ser- vice in the State. The corn crop of Nebraska may well be deemed a guarantee given by nature to the pioneers, insuring them a living while they were settling the State, 4 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, building" up its social institutions, preparing the way for those who were to follow them, and making ready the land to produce a wealth and variety of crops the bare enumeration of which almost taxes belief. Before dealing- with the unequalled resources of Nebraska in detail, it may be well to say that the life of the State has developed with m^arvelous rapidity. It has been no mushroom growth, but a rational, logi- cal advance in all things that go to make up a free and liberal commonwealth. Railroads gridiron eighty-one of its ninety counties. Cities have been born and have grown with healthy vigor. Education is amply provided for in schools which dot every township. Churches of all denominations rear their spires and cupolas to the clear sky. The city and county governments are enlightened and progressive. Even the advantages of climaie are added, and no clearer air can be breathed, no such regularly diversified seasons, each with its own importance to the State, can be enjoyed as in this, the most generously blessed of all the States — Nebraska. It is the purpose of this pamphlet to show very briefly, and without the wearying addition of sta.tis- tics some of the advantages and resources -of Ne- braska. The State extends a hearty welcome to all who make it their home, relying upon the co-operation of every immigrant to make Nebraska the model State of the West. CLIMATE. The climate is invigorating and salubrious, and is almost perfect from the point of view of an agricultur- alist. Spring opens early and sowing at once begins. Summer is genei-ally .hot, but the days are followed by delightfully cooling evening breezes, which sweep from the west ovei- the Rockies and destroy the risk of malaria. The Fall is the glory of the Nebraskan. admirable for the slow ripening of crops, and permit- ting the farmer to do the most important work of the year under clear skies and in genial sunshine until late in December. The winter is short and rarely se- vere. The natui'al formation of the country insures immunity from the terrors of cyclones, and the con- stant movement of the mild air is most beneficial to the unfortunate victims of pulmonary troubles. Of course, in an agricultural country the question of rain- fall is — to Use a Hibernicism — a burning one. Experience has shown that the average i-ainfall in Nebi'aska is sufficient for all needs. The average for the State is 24.42 inches, which may at first seem in- sufficient, but it is found that the State gets more than ADVANTAGES AND DEVEL0P:\7ENT. 5 half its rain-fall in one-third of the year, and that third the most important, viz., the months of April. May, June and July — the growing- months. Observa- tions made during these m-onths, in a fairly typical section of the State, show an absolute rain- fall of 14.10 inches which compares with an average for the same months, 13.53 inches in the six Atlantic States. 15.08 inches in Ohio. 15.87 inches in Indiana, and 13.90 inches in Illinois. Professor Godwin D. Sweezy, the well known meteorologist, says "The result of a com- pilation of rain-fall data for the State shows that its precipitation, especially for the growing season, is not far behind that of States lying to the east of us, such as Illinois, Indiana and Ohio." Such a showing is most satisfactory, and as cultiva- tion is increased and extended and trees reach maturity, there is little reason to doubt that the annual precipi-- tation will perceptibly increase. Rain is said to follow the plow, and every step that the colonizing farmer takes westward, is followed by increased rains as the land is turned over. Groves and forest trees are also rain producers. They retain the moisture until evap- oration restores it to the atmosphere. THE SOIL. The term soil is usually applied to the surface of the ground, not so in Nebraska. In this favored country the high prairie land is a rich black mould, some thirty inches deep. This is underlaid with the '"loess," a formation from ten to one hundred feet in depth and as favorable to plant growth as the mould. The soil is so well mixed with sand that it acts like a sponge, absorbing water and holding it until, as in time of drought, nature demands its return to the surface. The general idea of a prairie is that it is flat, but is not always so. This region is a great plateau, sloping gently from the mountains to the Mis- souri River. It is diversified by many valleys and numbers of clear streams. It was once the bed of an inland sea. and each geological change since that con- dition existed added something to the land to fit it to be what it is today, the richest agricultural country in the West. The State has. in recent years, collected a vast body of information on the subject of irrigation, which is a question of much importance. It is true that ow- ing to the time of year at which the greatest rain-fall occurs, irrigation is not needed to produce fine crops. but experiments have shown that the production on 6 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, irrigated lands is increased from one hundred to six hundred per cent. Numerous irrigating- companies have been started, and so far the results have fully justified the expenditure. The waters of the Platte, the Niobrara, the Republican and the Loup Rivers, and their almost countless tributaries permit an immense area to be irrigated at small cost. So far irrigation work has been confined to the western part of the State, where the rain-fall is least, and the appearance of that remote region, where even the most sanguine hardly dare to hope for successful cultivation, has been completely changed. WATER SUPPLY. Nebraska is blessed with an ample supply of water for stock and domestic purposes. There is a vast sheet of water overlaying the rock, or floor, of the sloping plateau. Melted snow and rains are constantly replenishing this unseen sea. There is no difficulty in sinking wells, and wind mills are operated without trouble or inconvenience, as the winds never fail and the cost is light. The advantages of this condition are apparent. No inconvenience arises from the frozen streams and ponds in winter, and in the heat of summer the water thus raised from the rock bed is pure, cool and refreshing. FARM PRODUCTS. To enumerate the successful products of Nebraska would be to recapitulate everything that is grown any- where except in the tropics, and first in importance comes the king of grains, corn. In 1892 there were four million, nine hundred eighty- one thousand, seven hundred and fifty- four acres planted in corn, and even in the least productive parts of the state the yield rarely fell short of twenty-five bushels to the acre, while it reaches sixty and even seventy bushels to the acre in better situated districts It is found that where the yield of corn is small — in the higher and colder regions — oats, barley and other small grains do remarkably well. Official returns show that the cost of producing corn varies from $4.13 to $8.87 per acre, and that estimate is inclusive of an allowance of eight per cent interest on the value of the land. It is, therefore, readily seen that the higher cost occurs where, on account of special advantages of locality, capacity for the production of large crops, or other reasons the land is valued highly. Perhaps the lowest price obtained for corn is twenty cents a bushel, ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 7 but where the stalks are used for fodder and the corn is fed to hogs and stock, the value is much greater to the farmer, and it may be said without fear of contra- diction that raising corn is invariably profitable. When local needs had been satisfied, it is found that seventy-two out of ninety counties shipped during the year 1891 no less than 2-4,295,500 bushels of corn. Even in the face of these figures it must be remem- bered that the crop of 1891, was not up to the average, and that railroad shipments only are included. No account being taken of the vast shipments taken out of the county and state in wagon loads. No one can overrate the importance of this staple crop. It is especially suitable to a new country, as it is easily raised within a very short time from the breaking of the land, and it serves not alone to support the farmer during his most struggling days, but fits the land for an almost endless variety of other crops. And corn has been raised for over twenty years in succession without the use of any artificial fertilizer. A few years ago it was considered that corn could only be grown in the eastern or river counties of Nebraska, but now the area has been extended almost to the western limit of the State, and there it is found that as corn disappears wheat raising takes its place. WHEAT. The subject of wheat cultivation in Nebraska is one of enormous importance. Notwithstanding the fact that there are no less than 1,229,665 acres in the State reported to have been planted in wheat in 1892, and that the wheat crop of 1891 was 18,000,000 bushels, it is only within the last couple of years that the probability of Nebraska being a successful rival of her sister states, Kansas and Iowa, as a wheat producing country has been seriously considered by the farmers. It has been shown that a part of the State in which the heat is not sufficient for an exceptional corn crop, is singu- larly well adapted to the raising of wheat. But the discovery of greatest moment that has been made is that Nebraska is capable of taking first place as a pro- ducer of winter wheat. No longer can there be any doubt as to the adapta- bility of Nebraska soil and climate for the successful production of winter wheat. The importance of this industry has never been fully realized in Nebi'aska until this season's crop was being harvested. The reports of extraordinary yields coming from all por- tions of the State where winter wheat had been i-own. S NEBRASKA S RESOURCES, the equal of which had scarcely a parallel in the his- tory of the best wheat- growing districts in the United States, influenced a disposition among- farmers to learn more of winter wheat, its cultivation, methods of seed- ing, varieties of seed best suited to our climate, soil, etc. The old prejudice against fall sowing, because of winter killing, freezing out. blowing out' owing to the loose, spongy condition of the soil, had no longer a place to base its argument and yielded to the force of new methods. This revolution in wheat production on the western prairie farms has been coming steadily forward for several years. Kansas was the first to prove the advantage of fall sowing over the spring sowing. The influence of their good crops extended north across the State line, until now the entire south Platte country of Nebraska is largely engaged in growing winter wheat, the spring wheat crop representing but a small per cent, of the wheat product of that section of the State. Nebraska's wheat crop of 1891 is represented under the estimate of 18,000,000 bushels. Tb.- large yield of winter wheat in the southern portion of the State is responsible in a great measure for the aggregate increase over former years. The crop of 1892 will show a large increase over last year, and the outlook for a greatly increased area for 1893 can only be realized after canvassing the hundreds of reports sent in by farmers from all over the state of the increased acreage of winter wheat already seeded in their respective localities. It is safe to place the increase in acreage in all parts of the state, where winter wheat has been tested, at 30 or 40 per cent, over last season's sowing. There is good reason, however, to believe that there will be a decrease in the spring wheat aci'eage of 1893, for the reason that the yield of winter wheat bar, ex- ceeded that of spring sowing from one-third to double, in most instances, where the two crops were tested on the same farm, besides being a much better quality of grain and bringing a much better price on the market. The advantages offered the farmer in the cultivation of the winter wheat crop are many. The v/ork of put- ting in this crop comes between harvest and corn gathering, a season of the year not crowded with any other special work on the farm. The land devoted to this crop is put out of the way at once, and demands no more attention until harvest, leaving the farmer with one 2ess small grain crop to provide for in the throng of spring work, unless some disaster of fall drouth, or winter freezing, destroys the chances for a crop, which injury may be fully determined in the spring, in time ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. to put the f?round in Gprinc Vv^ieat, oats, corn or millet. It is not like the failure of a ijpring- crop, which de- mands the choosing- between buckwheat and millet, or let the land lay idle during the year. The early matur- ing of the winter wheat crop gets it safely out of the way, in harvest, before any other grain crop is ripe. The natural adaptation of Nebraska soil and climate to the sucessful growing of this crop is largely attrib- uted to two special features— one. the natural and ex- cellent drainage of our country, leaving comparatively a very small per cent of land in the State too flat or too wet for its winter protection, and the other the free- ness from winter injury by freezing out, owin.g to the peculiar absorbing properties of our soil, which does not permit of excessive moisture freezing and heaving UD the top soil, to the injury of grass or grain crops. This is the cause of more winter wheat injury m the heavy clay soils of the Eastern States than all other causes combined. Our porous soils, aided by the dry climate, makes our country practically free from this kind of injury. . ' The method of seeding has more to do with the jield than any other feature of the crop work. The improved drills are conceded by all practical agriculturists as the best means of putting the seed in the ground. The seed is all placed at a uniform depth below the surface. whe>'e it receives a uniform influence in causing it to germinate and grow the plant. It comes up uniformly strong and vigorous. The depth of the root is suffi- cient to prevent all ordinary light winds from uncover- ing the plant roots, as often occurs in dry spells to wheat sown broadcast and not protected with a proper depth of well packed soil around it. The soil being generally of a loose loam or sandy loam, is easily moved by high winds during dry seasons, consequently the necessity of compressing the soil to guard against this influence, which the new press drill has fully sup- plied. The advantage, also, in seed saving is advo- cated by some as an important feature m favor ot this method" of sowing. ^ ^ . x-u a The old broadcast plan of sowing, wasted the seed, some being covered too deep, some too shallow, and per- ished in the germinating process, while a large percent was not covered at all, but left to be taken up by the birds. A bushel of wheat put in by drill will give better results than a bushel and a half sown broadcast. The time of seeding has much to do with securing a good crop. The early seeding is preferable. Septem- ber is regarded the best month for sowing winter wheat. The general estimate of increase by the press JO NiliiKASKA'S RESOURCES, drill process over broadcast sowing is fifty to sixty per cent. No better understanding' can be had of the im- mensity of the winter wheat yield in Nebraska, and the encouraging outlook for this crop than to take a few examples of wheat that has been produced this year. E. R. Caine, of Holdredge, says he sowed, last fall, twenty acres of corn-ground with fall wheat, cultivated it in with shovel plow and secured a yield of twenty bushels per acre. The same party sowed eighteen acres with press drill and secured a yield of thirty-four bushels per acre. Mr. Bennet Edwin, of Exeter, sowed seventy acres of winter wheat last fall b\- drill and harvested forty-five bushels per acre, at a cost not to exceed six dollars per acre. Z. S. Sage of Wymore says: Our yields are from twenty-five to fifty-two bushels per acre, the big yields invariably being where the press drill was used. The cost per acre, will not exceed $5.10 to grow a crop of Yv^heat and make it ready for the market. We estimate plowing $1, seed 75 cents, cutting and twine 85 cents, threshing $2, and stacking and hauling 50 cents. It is estimated that 80,000acres tributary to Strang, Nebraska, were planted to winter wheat last year and yielded an average of twenty-five bushels per acre, the cost per acre being five dollars, delivered at the elevator and the wheat selling at fifty to fifty-five cents. Scores of instances may be cited where the yields of winter wheat in Nebraska this year ranged from forty- five to fifty-four bushels per acre. When the exporting value of our Nebraska winter wheat has been fully determined the wealth of this industry w^ill then be ready for development. Further examples might be cited by the hundred showing the marvelous results of planting winter wheat. Two taken at random from a large number received will suffice. Frank B. Snyder of Stratton, Hitchcock county, says: I had in sixty-five acres of fall wheat this year, cost of putting in same was: 4 days work at $3.50 per day $ 14 00 65 bushels seed at 65c. per bushel 42 25 Cost of threshing 1,365 bushels at 6c. per bushel (the amount I'aised) 81 90 Cost of hauling same to cars 30 00 Total cost $168 15 ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 11 After deducting freight charges to Chicago I received: 1,365 bushels at 50 cents per bushel 682 50 I have a clear profit of $514 35 From the sixty-five acres of ground my wheat only averaged twenty-one bushels per acre which is low average for fall wheat this year. In my estimation there is thirty-five per cent more made by putting in fall wheat than putting in spring wheat. Fall wheat is in nearly all cases clear of smut while spring wheat is not. J. D. Licklider, of the same place, gives the fol- lowing, which shows a net profit on 156 acres of land to be $1,818.90: Breaking 156 acres $ 287 00 Discing three times and harrowing once, di'illing in grain, board for men and teams 287 05 Seed wheat 142 50 Cutting and shocking 121 45 Stacking, threshing, boarding hands and teams 469 70 Total expense $1,307 70 4,454 bushels of wheat, llic. per bushel ..... 3.173 40 Net profit $1,865 70 Perhaps the most important point to be borne in mind is, that if by any chance the winter wheat should fail, the farmer will be aware of the failure in sufficient time to put in a crop of corn, for which his land will be in a state of perfect preparation and his only loss will be the cost of the seed for his fall wheat sowing. It cannot be too strongly urged that to insure success the use of a press drill is almost absolutely necessary. In addition to the advantages of sowing with a press drill already described, it may be added that the little fur- rows retain the snow and provide a sufficient moisture just when it is most needed. If further proof is needed it may be found in three examples from Lawrence, (Nuckolls County). John Hoaveka put in sixteen acres of winter wheat with a drill, and threshed 550 bushels. Anton Katenika put in fifteen acres with a drill and threshed 500 bushels, and Henry Williams, who sowed twenty-four acres broadcast, only threshed 532 bushels. Comment on the difference in results is needless. The yield of winter wheat, when properly put in, has proven much larger than spring wheat, and of a great 12 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, deal better quality, grading No. 2, while a greater portion of the spring wheat grades No. ] or less, mak- ing the winter wheat worth at least five cents per bushel more. Our neighboring- states, Iowa and Kan- sas, last year's (1891) products in this cereal was much larger than ours; Kansas having produced 60,000,000 bushels — Iowa 28,500,000, while Nebraska raised only 18,000,000. There is no reason why we should not, with equal advantages in the way of climate, soil and our intelligent farming community, do equally as well. Here then is a glorious prospect for the settler in Nebraska. In the colder regions near the Colorado State line he finds a climate specially adapted to wheat. In the eastern, central and southern counties the land is so well prepared that a yield of wheat which seems incredible rewards his labors. In brief it may be said that on land worth twenty dollars per acre there is an average yield of thirty-five bushels per acre, costing to produce five dollars per acre, and worth at the very lowest fifty-five cents a bushel, thus giving a profit, after allowing ten per cent interest on the value of the land, of twelve dollars and twenty-five cents per acre. The light is rapidly spreading and five years from today Nebraska's winter wheat crop will equal if not exceed that of Kansas. OTHER CROPS. Oats, flax, rye, millet and barley flourish, and there are no less than one hundred fifty four grasses found in the State, most of them highly nutritious. Tobacco culture has been experimentally tried in the State, and has resulted in a crop of fifteen hundred pounds to the acre. The cost of cultivation is estimated from forty dollars to sixty dollars an acre. Another new industry has taken permanent hold in Nebraska. A company has been organized in Holt County, the object being to cultivate, purchase and manufacture the agricultural product of chicory. Mr. Bazelman, a Belgian, with great experience in his native country in this industry, has thoroughly satisfied himself that it is admirably adapted to successful culture in Nebraska. The aver- age price of raw chicory is nine dollars per ton, and the yield will average ten to eleven tons per acre. There is no more secret in its cultivation than for corn. Statistics show that $8,000,000 worth of chicory is im- ported annually into the United States. ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 13 BEET CULTURE. Another source of riches in this favored land is found in its suitability to the cultivation of the sugar beet. Already beet sugar is being- made at Norfolk and Grand Island, and the results prove conclusively that in no other pai-t of the country can this vastly import- ant product be better raised. Until 1892, operations had hardly got beyond the experimental stage, yet in that year the Grand Island refinery consumed 160.000 tons of beets, yielding 2,110.000 pounds best quality of sugar. The smaller refinery at Norfolk consumed 90,000 tons of beets, yielding 1,700,000 pounds of sugar. It is impossible to state how many acres in the State are plated to beets, but observation shows that the acreage in 1893 will very nearly double that of 1892. Some examples taken at random are here given show- ing the results of beet cultivation: Name and Address. Fred Roby, Grand Island John F. Harrison, York Charles Redel, Loup City Anthony Shaefer, Red Cloud W. B. Wilson, Hastings Charles Klein, Tobias August Heuman, Seward J. H. Stewart, Broken Bow Geo. B. Rood, North Loup Phelps County S.B. Co.,Holdrege F. Garbera, Chapman Margaret Huebert, Hampton Henry Lubs, Alda .T. T. Mallelieu, Kearney Edward Amman, St. Paul L. L, Doane, Scotia J. F. Loghry, Geneva David Brandt, Abbott D. C. Kuns, McCool Junction.... J. H. Wagner, Wolbach 3 2 1 3 3 1% 1 2 5 20 2 1 2 75 2 1 3 IK 2 50.8 35.0 14.1 44.5 43.1 18.5 13.1 18.7 62.4 193.4 17.3 9.2 20.0 784.8 10 5 20.8 10.1 32.2 17.8 21.7 16.9 17.5 14.1 14.8 14.4 10.6 13.1 9.3 12.5 9.7 8.6 9.2 10.0 10.5 10.5 10.4 10.1 10.7 11.9 10.8 ? 221 39 140 17 63 62 177 91 172 46 105 92 52 36 102 95 249 76 993 62 96 57 46 06 91 65 3,476 20 42 25 83 23 40 76 144 15 71 28 86 93 as <3g < a. $73 8fl 70 W 63 62 59 30 57 49 60 52 52 36 51 47 49 95 49 68 48 26 46 06 45 82 46 35 42 25 41 61 40 76 48 05 47 52 43 46 Beet culture is really the raising of a field crop by horticultural methods. Great care is needed, and the farmers have shown considerable timidity about tak- ing up a crop with which they were wholly unfamiliar. Speaking of this, one of the leading authorities on the subject says: ''You see, the beet has to be treated with great tenderness. The sweetness has to be worked into it, 14 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, SO to speak. First, you must be careful in the selec- ■ tion of your ground. It must be deep soil, with a soft sub-soil that will allow the water to pass through. Un worked land will not do, as the Aveeds are apt to be too rank; sandy soil will not do. because it will flow; freshly manured ground makes too coarse a beet: wet ground will not do at all, because, while the beets need a good deal of moisture, they must not be allowed to stand in the water. "Deep plowing is most essential. You see, the ground must be soft and yielding. It's not safe to plant before the first week in April, and the last plant- ing ought not to be later than the middle of May. If a man has a large field, there is some advantage in sowing different blocks of it at different times because that allows the farmer more time to attend to them. When the plant has formed good leaves, which under the right conditions is about five or six v/eeks. then is the time for thinning out. And much depends upon having this well done. Up to this time the beet has not been touched, except in the way of light but frequent cultivation. In the thinning out, the bunches are so separated that each beet left remaining in the ground stands quite by itself. If two beets are left together they twist around one another and neither amounts to anything. They should be left from six to eight inches apart in the row, the rows being, you understand, far enough apart to allow a horse to pass between them. There is a little knack about this thinning. "In order to do it so as not to loosen the beet that is left in the ground, and at the same time to get up the entire root of the one you are uprooting requires a peculiar twist of the wrist. But when it is once learned one does it instinctively. After this thinning has been thoroughly done the crop is practically assured. The sun, the rain and the wind does the rest. It takes about five months for the beet to mature."' It is apparent that it is far better for many farmers to devote small parcels of land to beet culture than for a few to raise it on a large scale. It is well adapted to the special circumstances of a farmer with a young family, because the children can easily do the light work of tending and cultivating without undue inter- ference with their school attendance or other pursuits. Taking the low average of ten tons to the acre— and under favorable conditions it must be remembered that thirty tons to the acre is no uncommon result — at $5 a ton is $50 an acre to the farmer, less interest on the value of his land and the labor of cultivation. ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMEN 15 Drought has no terrors for the beet raiser. The year 1890 has passed into history as the driest and hot- test season Nebraska has experienced in twelve years. During- that season nearly all crops suffered most severely from drought, in many cases being literally burnt out. Beets, on the contrary, showed that they could withstand such extremes, and while the tonnage yield w-as small the sugar contents was exceptionally large. The season of 1891 went to the other extreme, behig the wettest and coldest on record for a period of ten years. During this season, while all other crops have done well, the beet crop is not behind; a larger tonnage having been obtained than in 1891, but with a correspondingly smaller sugar content. Finally such data as are available show that fifteen tons per acre with a sugar content of thirteen and one half per cent is a fair average yield for the whole state, and that sugar beets make one of the best of cattle foods, of especial importance in the West where nitrogenous cattle foods are relatively scarce. < FRUIT CULTURE. There are 3,816,463 fruit trees in Nebraska, exclu- sive of 982,437 grape vines, and the importance of developing commercial orchards is attracting the seri- ous attention of the farmer. Blackberries, gooseberries currants, mulberries and strawberries rarely fail to yield substantial results to the grower. But it is the apple orchard that gives the best results. Nebraska I'aises nearly every apple that is grown in any part of the country. The counties of Richardson, Nemaha, Otoe and Cass, on the Missouri River, entered more largely into early orcharding, and at present have more old bear- ing api)le trees than any other portion of the State. There are many natural climatic, soil, and other con- ditions existing in these counties which seemed to warrant them in the claim that they are better adapted to fruit culture than interior counties. This, to an ex- tent, is true; yet there has been much more planting done of late years in many of the interior counties, especially of purely commercial o-rchard^, and which at present give promise. of equally good results as in the older counties named. This is more particularly so in the counties of Saline and Jefferson. The prices annually range, for summer and fall apples, 20 to 40 cents per bushel at the orchards. For winter appleti at the orchards, or delivered at railroad stations, 16 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, from 40 to 75 cents. Short seasons" select apples com- mand $1 per bushel readily at the orchard. Planting commercial orchards is largely on the increase. The quality of apples as a rule is good. Large shipments of Nebraska apples grown in 1891 ■went East into older states. In fact some of the best keepers went abroad. For Avinter varieties Ben Davis, Winesap, Rawle's Gennett (Jennetin), Willow Twig, Rome Beauty, Grime's Golden, and Jonathan are termed "'iron clads.'" Nearly all worthy varieties grown anywhere in the United States are successfully produced in this State. Train loads of Nebraska apples were sent East dur- ing the shipping season of last year, successfully taking the place of the high grade which it had here- tofore been thought that New York State alone could furnish. They found their way to the London market and fully upheld the reputation of the American fruit, whose representatives they were for the first tim-e elected to be. Apple culture in Nebraska has been very successful, and has long since passed the experi- mental stage as to suitable varieties and the best methods of cultivation. The county of Otoe alone shipped more than a half million bushels in the fall of 1891. Cass County produced the largest apple ever grown in the "world. Orchards planted thirty years ago are still producing abundantly of the best quality. Two hundred miles west of the river, in Furnas, and the line of counties to the north, are to be seen m.any flourishing and extensive orchards just coming into the prime of bearing, and the sr.me is true of Red Wil- low and other localities w^here the settlements are suf- ficiently old for the apple to begin to make returns. At Elsie, in Perkins County, an orchard of six hundred trees shows scarcely one missing, while the groAvth of every individual tree is all that could be desii'ed. Peaches, while not so reliable as less tender fruits, are successfully raised by those who make a specialty of them. The crop of 1891 was exceptionally good, as is evidenced by the fact that the well-known Reynolds Orchard, near Wymore, produced enough that were sold to more than equal the entire sum of money that would have bought the premises the previous spring. But this is an unusual instance, and no special stress is laid upon it. Plums, cherries and grapes areas staple and certain as corn, being unexcelled anywhere in the world in size, beauty, quality and prolific yield. The small fruits are just as well adapted to the country and are produced with equal ease and success. Freedom from insect pests is a rare advantage ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 17 enjoyed by the Nebraska fruit-grower, while the ship- ping quality of his fruit is simply remarkable. This last is no idle claim. There ai-e unquestionably differ- ences in this respect in different localities, and this happens to be the one which excels. Fruit ripens early, and finds a market both East and West. There is one difficulty encountered by the fruit-grower here, and one only, and it is frankly mentioned. He finds some difficulty away from the larger cities in hiring for the harvest the cheap child labor which is moi-e abundant East. But thib condition will no doubt be outgrov/n by the time an orchard of the standard fruits, bet out now, would need the hand of the harvester. TREE PLANTING. The cultivation of timber began soon after the first settlements made in 1854, and at present there are 66.937,494 forest trees in Nebi-aska, and every year more attention is being given to arbor-culture. To the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, the present Secretary of Agriculture, is due the credit of having awakened such interest in the vital necessity of changing the almost treeless condition of the State, and it is found that no less than 131 varieties of trees and shrubs now thrive from end to end of the State. The Nebraska State Constitution provides that "the increased value of land, by reason of live fences, fruit and forest trees grown and cultivated thereon, shall not be taken into consideration in the assessment thereof. A State law "exempts from taxation for five years, $100 valuation for each acre of fruit trees planted, and $50 for each acre of forest trees." Also makes it obligatory that "the corporate authorities of cities and villages in the State shall cause shade trees to be planted along the streets thereof." Further, "any person who shall injure or destroy the shade tree or trees of another, or permit his or her animals to do the same, shall be liable to a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $50 for each tree injured or de- stroyed." To encourage growing live fences, the law permits planting "precisely on tUe line of the road or highway, and for its protection, to occupy for a term of seven years, six feet of the road or highway." In no State in the Union has the beautiful holiday of Arbor Day such a significance. On that day each year hundreds of thousands of trees are planted, im- proving farming lands, beautifying the homes of the citizens and embellishing, as nothing but shade trees can embellish them, the wide streets and boulevards 18 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, of the cities, towns and villages. Red cedar, bur oak, black walnut, yellow pine, white elm and cottonwood spread their grateful shade through the length and breadth of the State, in addition to most of the sixty- two varieties reported, together with sixty-nine vari- eties of useful hardy herbs. STOCK-RAISING. In point of raising horses, cattle and hogs cheaply and easily this section of the country stands without a peer anywhere. The mildness of the winter weather and the abundance of nutritious wild grasses in locali- ties that are but moderately adapted to farming, makes it possible to bring horses and cattle to maturity, fitted for market, without ever tasting grain or cut hay. In- deed, this was but a short time ago the constant prac- tice on a large scale. The general settlement of the vast grazing grounds has not altered the esential con- ditions; it has made it impracticable to take advantage of them on the same broad gauge as before. The stock must be kept off the crops and premises of others than their owner. It may be new to many eastern people to know that fences ar-e not compulsory in Nebraska. It has been found cheaper to fence the stock up in pas- tures or keep it in charge of a herder than to fence every field as protection against trespass. There were two very excellent reasons for the original adoption of this policy. One was that the poor man could open his farm with much less cost and labor without fencing, and would thus be enabled to open out a great deal more land with the plow. Another was that the better care the stock itself would receive, by being constantly under the eye of a keeper, would be profitable. Both the assumptions have eminently justified their authors, and the production of the largest crops and the best stock has been the result. Being able to dispense with the enormous trouble and cost of fencing is a great ad- vantage to the settler, no matter how rich he is, and it has proven the salvation of the great prairies. It is said, and not publicly contradicted, that the fences of states like Ilinois have actually cost more than all the farm stock in the states is worth. A quarter-section farm requires for its proper handling, where stock is allowed to run at large, about four miles of fence. Es- itmating the cost of this at one dollar per rod, which is certainly low enough, we have absorbed in this one wholly unproductive item the sum of $1,280. To this must be added the never-ending repairs it calls for, as well as the damage done by trespassing stock. ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 19 Suppose two young- farmers to start even, one in Illinois and one in Nebraska. The Illinois man invests $1,300 in fence, while the Nebraska man puts a like amount of money into cows, mares and hog-s. It can be seen at a glance that the farmer who fences has no show in the race with the more fortunate man who lives in Neb- raska. The fence is non-productive; it simply protects in some degree against loss. In Nebraska there is no loss of that sort to be protected against, and the trouble and care involved in the restraint of stock are in them- selves profitable, because they guarantee that the ani- mals receive proper attention in the matter of feed, water and health. Rorses and cattle are raised two ways in Nebraska; by all farmers on a email scale, as incidental to the conducting of the farm itself, and by those who make breeding their chief occupation. Both have the most healthful reigon in the world, where loss from disease is almost unknown. The farmer has the cheapest land and the cheapest feed in the world, and of course he makes a profit. Nobody will doubt this, and it is unnecessary to support it with proof. The man who makes the rearing of cattle his chief business usually seeks a location where he oan have summer range. This is to be found where the country is locally broken and rough, as in the sand hills before spoken of. or about the headwaters of certain streams. It is difficult now to obtain ownership of these lands, though some may yet be purchased from the remnants of railroad land grants, but their use may be had free by a sort of prior occupation right. It is tacitly agreed, and has become the custom, that the first comer to a range shall not be disturbed by other stock-owners, and in fact it would not pay the intruders to do so, because he would overstock the range and make it unprofitable for himself. That stock raising is one of the chief industries of the State is abundantly shown by the following figures^ which are the latest obtainable: No. of horses, 640,088, valued at ^^8,476,504 No. of cattle, 1,643,174, valued at 6,438,352 No. of sheep, 142,946, valued at 140,500 No. of hogs, 1,296,433, valued at 1,320,67S These are the values set down for purposes of tax assessment, and of course they fall far short of the real value. Railroad facilities and the wonderful development of the great stock yards and packing houses of South Omaha, insure to the stock raiser a ready and profita- ble market. 20 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, The following figures, prepared by the South Omaha Union Stock Yards Company, show in readily intelligible form the magnitude of the business done. LARGEST RECEIPTS. LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE DAY. Cattle, October 19, 1891 6,7S4 Hogs, Augnst 12,1890 16,725 Sheep, S-ptember 24, 1891 8,782 Horses and mules, June 6, 1889 718 Cars, July 15,1890 365 LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE WEEK. Cattle, week ending October 31, 1891 37,190 Hogs, week ending July 31, 1890 75,797 Siieep, week ending September 30, 1890 12,817 Horses and mules, week ending June?, 1889 891 Cars, week ending October 31, 1890 1,947 LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE MONTH. Cattle, October, 1891 73,339 Hogs, August, 1890 250,322 Sheep, Octobisr, 1888 31,829 Horses and mules, June, 1889 2,073 Cars, August, 1890 5,859 LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE YEAR. Cattle. 1890 .- 606,699 Hogs, 1890 1,673,314 Sheep, 1891 170,849 Horses and mules, 1891 8,592 Cars 1S90, 54,283 AVERAGE WEIGHT OF HOGS. Statement showing the monthly average weight of hogs sold on this market for five years: Months. December January... February March .\ptil May June July August .... Sepiember October ... November 1891. 1890. 1889. 1888. 243 278 280 249 273 287 231 2X8 262 273 237 223 258 264 232 216 259 260 237 219 260 253 232 229 2S4 260 236 2.30 259 257 237 2.^4 244 254 236 237 241 259 248 238 228 271 267 250 234 274 273 1887. 264 235 235 233 237 245 248 247 248 252 258 270 ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 2t MONTHLY RANGE OF PRICES FOR CATTLE. Showing the exti'eme range of prices paid on this market for cattle in car load lots or over for the year ending November 30, 1891: Afonths 1 Dressed Beef, Heifers. Cows, Mixed Stock. Western and Texas Steers. Stockers and Feeders. December January... February March April May June July .. .. $2 75 @ 5 25 3 00 @ 5 S5 2 65 @ 5 10 3 25 @ 5 75 3 25 @ 5 873^ 3 65 @ 5 95 4 «0 ® 6 00 3 65 @ 6 00 3 00 @ 5 65 3 00 @ 5 50 3 05 @ 5 75 2 90 @ 4 90 $1 00 @ 3 50 1 00 @ 3 25 1 00 (a\ 3 75 1 25 @ 4 25 1 50 @ 5 10 1 35 @ 5 25 1 20 @ 5 10 1 25 @ 3 50 70 (a), 3 00 65 @ 2 &0 75 (a), 2 75 80 @ 2 75 S2 20 @ 3 20 2 50 @ 3 75 2 50 (oj 4 25 3 00 @ 4 45 3 55 @ 5 30 3 75 Ca) 4 85 2 80 @ 4 00 3 00 @ 4 50 2 50 @ 3 75 1 95 («> 4 00 1 80 @ 4 15 1 85 @ 4 15 $2 00 (a), 3 00 2 20 @ 3 05 1 75 @ 3 35 2 10 (0). 3 65 2 60 @ 4 25 2 00 @ 4 22^. 1 80 @, 4 10 2 35 (ai 3 75 August,... Septemb'r October... Novemb'r 2 40 @ 3 75 1 65 @ 3 65 1 65 (5) 3 30 1 60 @ 3 15 THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. The quality of Nebraska butter takes deservedly high rank. The grasses of the northwest ai'e particu- larly adapted to butter making. They give to the product of the cow a rich, nutritious flavor. Its. keeping quality is remarkable, and a cleanly dairy is, owing to the enormous home demand, a veritable lit- tle gold mine. Already numbers of extensive cream- eries and large faiin dairies have been put in operation and the results have been so successful that an im- mense development of the industiy may be conhdentiy looked for. BEE CULTURE. Pains have been taken by the Nebraska Bee Keep- ers' Association to impi-ess upon the farmers in the State that on every holding of 160 acres from 500 ta 1.000 pounds of nectar are annually wasted where bees are not kept to add to the productiveness of the farm.. Comparisons with the honey produced in other States show that the nectar in the trees, flowers and clovers . of Nebraska gives a clearer, better keeping and more ueadily marketable honey than even the Californian. The industry i-s only in its infancy, yet in 189:2 it is estimated that 300,000 pounds of strained honey were marketed in Nebraska at an average price of ten cents per poimd. The cost of production is merely nomina\, the outlay being limited to the purchase of the queen 20 NEBRASKA S RESOURCES, The following- figures, prepared by the South Omaha Union Stock Yards Company, show in readily intelligible form the magnitude of the business done. LARGEST RECEIPTS. LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE DAY. Cattle, October 19, 1891 6,784 Hogs, Augnst 12,1890 16,725 Sheep, S-^ptember 24, 1891 8,782 Horses and mules, June 6, 1889 718 Cars,Ju]y 15,1890 366 LARGEST RECEIPTS OP STOCK IN ONE WEEK. Cattle, week ending October 31, 1891 37,190 Ho28,week ending July 31, 1890 75,797 Sheep, week ending September 30, 1890 12,817 Horses and mules, week ending June 7, 1889 891 Cars, week ending October 31, 1890 1,947 LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE MONTH. Cattle, Octobtr, 1891 78,339 Hogs, August, 1890 250,322 Sheep, Octob45r, 1888 31,829 Horses and inules, June, 1889 2,073 Cars, August, 1890 5,859 LARGEST RECEIPTS OF STOCK IN ONE YEAR. Cattle, 1890 606,699 Hogs, 1890 1,673,314 Sheep, 1891 170,849 Horses and mules, 1891 8,592 Cars 1S90, 54,283 AVERAGE WEIGHT OF HOGS. Statement showing- the monthly average weight of hogs sold on this market for five years: Months. December January... February March April May June July August Sepieraber October .... November, 1891. 1890. 1889. 1888. 243 278 280 249 273 287 231 2X8 262 273 237 223 258 264 232 216 259 260 237 219 260 258 232 229 264 260 236 2.30 259 257 237 234 244 254 2.36 237 241 259 248 238 228 271 267 250 234 274 273 264 235 235 233 237 245 248 247 248 252 258 270 ADVANTAGES AND DEVELOPMENT. 2t MONTHLY RANGE OF PRICES FOR CATTLE. Showing the extreme range of prices paid on this market for cattle in car load lots or over for the year ending November 30, 1891: Months. I>''essed Beef, and Shipping. Heifers. Cows, Mixed Stock. Western and Texas Steers. Stockers and Feeders. December January... February March April >i«y June July 12 75 @. 5 25 3 00 @ 5 .^5 2 65 @ 5 10 3 25 @ 5 75 3 25 @ 5 871^ 8 65 @ 5 95 4 €0 @ 6 00 3 65 @ 6 00 3 00 @ 5 65 3 00 @ 5 50 3 05 @ 5 75 2 90 @ 4 90 $1 00 @ 3 50 1 00 @ 3 25 1 00 @ 3 75 1 25 @ 4 25 1 50 @/ 5 10 1 35 @ 5 25 1 20 @ 5 10 1 25 @ 3 50 70 @ 3 00 65 @ 2 60 75 @ 2 75 80 @ 2 75 $2 20 @ 3 20 2 50 @ 3 75 2 50 (a> 4 25 8 00 @ 4 45 3 55 @ 5 30 3 75 @ 4 85 2 80 @ 4 00 3 00 @ 4 50 2 50 @ 3 75 1 95 (aj 4 00 1 80 @ 4 15 1 85 @ 4 15 ?2 00 (fi). 3 00 2 20 @ 3 05 1 75 @ 3 35 2 10 (d). 3 65 2 60 @ 4 25 2 00 @ 4 2234 1 80 (g>, 4 10 2 35 &, 3 75 August.... Sepiemb'r October... Novemb'r 2 40 @ 3 75 1 65 @ 3 65 1 65 ® 3 30 1 60 @ 3 15 THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. The quality of Nebraska butter takes deservedly high rank. The grasses of the northwest are particu- larly adapted to butter making. They give to the product of the cow a rich, nutritious flavor. Its. keeping quality is remarkable, and a cleanly dairy is, owing to the enormous home demand, a veritable lit- tle gold mine. Already numbers of extensive cream- eries and large farm dairies have been put in operation and the resuits have been so successful that an im- mense development of the industry may be contideiitiy looked for. BEE CULTURE. Pains have been taken by the Nebraska Bee Keep- ers' Association to impress upon the farmers in the State that on every holding of 160 aci'es from 500 \o 1.000 pounds of nectar are annually wasted whei-e bees are not kept to add to the productiveness of the farm. Comparisons with the honey pi-oduced in other States bhow that the nectar in the trees, flowers and clovers of Nebraska gives a clearer, better keeping and more readily marketable honey than even the Calif ornian. The industry is only in its infancy, yet in 1892 it is Estimated that 300,000 pounds of strained honey were marketed in Nebraska at an average price of ten cents per pound. The cost of production is merely nominal, the outlay being limited to the purchase of the queen 24 NEBRASKA'S RESOURCES, That the urban development is not confined to Omaha may be seen from the following table of the population of sixteen cities in the order of their rank: CiTIKS. Counties Population. Increase. 1890. 1880. Number. Percent. Douglas Lancaster... Gage 140,452 55,154 13,836 13,584 11,494 8,392 8,074 8,062 7,536 6,747 3,401 3,134 3,055 3,038 2,630 2,601 30,518 13,0U3 2,447 2,817 4,183 4,175 1,783 109,934 42,151 11,389 10,767 7,311 4,217 6,292 8,062 4,573 3,734 2,146 1,003 2,692 2,491 1,879 2.601 360.23 Lincoln 324 IS Beatrice 465 43 Adams Otoe .. .. 382 22 Nebraska City.. 174 78 Cass 101 01 Kearnev ... Buffalo Douglas Hall 353 09 South Omaha... 2,963 3,013 1,259 2,131 g63 547 1,251 154.34 Fremont York Dodge York Platte Lincoln Manlison Jeffersonj.... Phelps 123.93 170.45 Columbus North Platte Norfolk . .. 47.07 741.60 455.39 Fairbury 110.23 Holdrege To Nebraska, then, the eyes of our eastern brothers must turn as well as those of the intelligent and sturdy foreigners who each week arrive on our shores to find, in the far west. Liberty, Prosperity and a Home. Nebraska offers a hearty welcome to every good citizen. Where each one labors for the common good, where nature smiles on the willing worker, where the broad and liberal constitution affords security to all, there must arise a commonwealth whose greatness shall be tho pride of every Nebraskan and every American, when those who patiently and lovingly built it up shall have silently passed away.