The Bad Lands.— These have become famous. Their features and treasures early attracted the hunter and the explorer. The term ((bad)) has been applied to them because of the difficulty of exploring that region. The most notable °bad lands,D or mauvaises terres in the State are located between the Cheyenne and White rivers. This whole region is cut up by deep ravines, bounded largely with high continuous clay bluffs. Most of the surface ig without useful vegetation. The peaks and bluffs seem to have been carved by erosion out of the white clays, marls and sands of the Tertiary Geological Period. The Lands)) have become widely known, chiefly through the fossil remains they contain. The most fruitful field for this is what is known as Indian Draw, a south branch of the Cheyenne River. Here the stream has eroded a valley five or six miles in width, bounded by steep cliffs over 300 feet high. This valley is studded with an indescrib able labyrinth of buttes, ravines, grassy valleys and dry water courses. Here the light coloredr clays of the Tertiary Period rest directly on the dark Cretaceous shales. In the lower strata of the Tertiary are to be found the best fossil remains. Many of these have found their way into our best European museums and are evi dences of mammoth animals of various types that once inhabited the forests of the State.
Archeological Remains.— The State also contains interesting archeological remains. These indicate the occupancy of a prehistoric race of greater industry and intelligence than the Indians later encountered by the white man. One of these is the remains of a strong fort near Pierre. It embraces about 130 acres of ground, is admirably located for strategic pur poses, is laid out with a skill and accuracy that challenges the admiration of modern military engineers. Within this are found remnants of pottery which give evidence of a high degree of skill and artistic sense. Copper instruments, highly tempered, are also found indicating an art now lost to man. The walls of the fortifica tion are very heavy and well constructed, sug gesting an industry and a skill never exhibited by any Indian tribes. There are similar fortifi cations at several other strategic points in the State, such as Chamberlain and Campbell County. Near old Fort Wadsworth, in Mar shall County, are also extensive mounds which army engineers long ago pronounced must be long to a prehistoric race.
Climate and Rainfall.— The State is noted for its abundance of sunshine. The whole eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain Plateau is distinguished for its sunshine and South Dakota is known as the State. No Northern State has fewer cloudy days. The air is dry in winter and a low temperature is endured without much suffering. The Chinook winds from the Pacific warm current modify the temperature very perceptibly, es pecially in the western part of the State. The
temperatures vary from an average of above zero for January (the coldest month) to an average of 72 for July (the warmest month). The growing season varies from 136 days in the Black Hills to 150 days in the southeastern part of the State. The moisture comes prin cipally from the Gulf of Mexico and the At lantic Ocean and is abundant for agricultural purAoses over nearly all the cultivated section of the State. The annual rainfall in the eastern half of the State averages little more than 22 inches and in the western half 17 inches. The summer rainfall about 15 inches for the entire State during the growing season.
Agriculture.— The chief industry of South Dakota is agriculture, except in the south western portion of the State, where there are extensive gold mines and where mining is the only occupation of importance. The broad fertile prairies are fast being converted into rich fields of various food crops. One can drive for miles with waving fields of grain on both sides of the road as far as his eye will carry and of corn also hedging the way with its green cooling foliage to soften and reduce the sun's heat on July and August days. All varieties of small grain are grown successfully over almost the entire State. Corn is grown best in the Southern and Eastern portions. Yet in the Central part its yield is increasing each year.
Soil cultivation is becoming more general the last decade than ever before. Considerable fall wheat is now sown but spring sowing is still the most common practice. Crop rotation too is just receiving attention and will soon become general for this method is advocated from every source of reliable information. Irrigation is practised to some extent, espe cially in the northwestern part of the State and its advantages are coming to be appreciated more and more each year. The Federal gov ernment has constructed a large dam on the Bellefourche River and this irrigates a large district which is rapidly developing into a prof itable and happy agricultural community. Al falfa finds in South Dakota a suitable soil and appropriate climatic conditions for its best production and harvesting. It is grown in large quantities on both sides of the river but its ultimate home is destined to be the western section of the State. Here this crop finds a natural and leading place in all agricultural cal culations and has been found the most profit able plant that can be grown. Some farmers in this section of the State have sold $100 worth of alfalfa seed per acre in a single season from their alfalfa fields. The statistics presented in this article show what agriculture means to the State of South Dakota and are worth the con sideration of any one desirous of appreciating the opportunities this new State offers settlers and investors.