Hyde County, SD History - Books .....Chapter 11 Highmore Experiment Station 1908
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Book Title: History Of Hyde County

CHAPTER XI
HIGHMORE EXPERIMENT STATION

   In the central part of South Dakota lies the Ree Valley, a broad expanse of
level prairie, hemmed in at the horizon's edge by rounded hills, the moraines
left by the glaciers that thousands of years ago brought the soil that has made
the upper Mississippi Valley the bread basket of the world. The soil is a rich
glacial deposit, varying from 500 to 1,500 feet in depth. The upper soil is a
dark loam formed by humus from the decay of the grasses through ages. Its
fertility is practically inexhaustible. Under the glacial layer above the
ancient shale is a sheet of water fed by drainage waters that constantly filter
through the porous glacial drift. This forms a never-failing reservoir to feed
the artesian wells, of which hundreds have been sunk, in late years.

    The prairie, in a state of nature, presents a panorama, of velvety buffalo
grass that rarely grows above a few inches in height and produces from one-half
to one ton of nutritious hay per acre. While this wild hay could not be improved
upon while the whole country is thinly settled, the thought has often occurred
to the far-sighted farmer, "What will we do when the population increases so
that the wild hay is not sufficient to supply the demands upon it."

    An experiment station was established some years ago at High-more, the
county seat of Hyde County, situated near the center of the Ree Valley. A piece
of land, 130 acres, was presented to the state, which was known as the poorest
farm in the township. The land was cleared of hard heads, put in a state of
cultivation, and a system of selection, variety testing and crop rotation
established.

    The first object was to develop a drouth resistent legume. Alfalfas were
obtained from Siberia, Turkestan and parts of the United States where conditions
of climate are similar. These were planted in testing plots as well as rows
which were cultivated for selection. The alfalfa has done everything expected of
it. The present year it has yielded two cuttings of about one ton each per acre
and in some years a third cutting has been obtained. Besides producing about
four times as much hay as the wild sod, it improves the ground by adding
nitrogen. The value of chopped alfalfa as a feed for cattle is well known, being
equal, weight for weight, to bran. The crimson clovers tested, although they can
be grown, cannot compare with it for this section.

   Three kinds of brome grass have been thoroughly tested and carefully
improved, the bromus intermis, as usual, winning the laurels. This grass grows
to a height of from three to five feet and yields from one and one-half to two
and one-half tons per acre. Timothies are a success, though in some seasons they
fail to catch. Two kinds are grown—a long headed, short stemmed Russian variety
and the common timothy.

    The wild western wheat grass has been grown under conditions of cultivation
and proves to be. an unfailing yielder. Several other grasses are being tested
and grown here, but those mentioned seem to be the winners commercially, and the
farmer of the future South Dakota with his brome grass and alfalfa can compete
well with the eastern farmer and his eastern grasses.

    For heavy forage crops, cane, broom corn millet, millet and milo maize have
all proved sure yielders and varieties have been improved and especially
adapted. Seed is being sent out in small quantities and it is hoped that by the
time the need is really felt a sufficient seed stock will be obtainable and the
farmer will not be forced to take chances by planting seed not acclimated.

    Of all the varieties of maize tried, the Minnesota No. 13 has averaged the
best. A special strain is being developed for hardiness. Much is expected of a
new variety known as the Brown County Yellow Dent.

    Oats have yielded from 50 to 70 bushels per acre, and the quality is all
that could be desired, plump, hard grain that will over-weigh.

    One of the pictures shows the cutting of durum or macaroni wheat on the
eighth of August. The illustration gives a good idea of the height of the grain.
This wheat has yielded an average of 29 bushels per acre and this year will do
much better. The fife and blue stem varieties have considerable red rust this
year and some indications of black rust, but in most varieties this will not be
serious enough to greatly reduce the yield. The bread wheats have an average
record of about 17 bushels per acre.

    Barleys, both two and six-rowed and emmer, commonly known as speltz, have
done well for a period of years, yielding ordinarily better than 40 bushels.

    The work of the station is educational as well as experimental, .being a
branch of the State College at Brookings. Many visitors are shown over the place
every day, getting object lessons in good farming. The secret of success in,
agriculture where the rainfall is light is a thoroughly plowed and compacted
seed bed. Harrowing must be done with a heavy iron drag and should be repeated
about three times. Pulverizing is important and must not be neglected.

    For corn and other cultivated crops, frequent cultivation is imperative and
when ready for. the last cultivation, it should be laid back with an implement
that gets all the weeds and leaves a thorough dust mulch. There are various
makes of about equal value for this purpose. If possible, all suckers and short
stalks should be removed so as not to tax the ground and the plant roots with
unnecessary growth. The significant fact that the farmer or prospective farmer
of this section Can do all his work with machinery is most encouraging. Any
farmer can obtain yields like those mentioned if he will plant good seed and use
similar culture and crop rotation methods. The soil possesses its own fertility
and will do its part.—Manley Champlin in the Sioux City Farmers' Tribune.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY 
SOUTH DAKOTA
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME
BY JOHN B. PERKINS
1908


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