The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-11

ter of fact, the theory viii not hold wa
ter. The pIowshare of the settler may
conserve rainfall by breaking the inn
pervious sod of the prairfes but it DOS
sesses no more potency to condense the
vapors in the air than the chemical
squirt-gun of the professional rain
maker.
I'VE are confronted by conditions and
not theories in our relations to climate.
BY taking note of conditions you may
find more causes for thankfulness than
for complaints. For one thing, you have
reason to be grateful for the fact that
while the annual rainfall of Kansas is
materially lower than in the east, and
south, more than 73 per cent of the
yearly total comes in the six crop
months, April to September. The aver
age for the state is tWenty-One inches
for the crop season, and that amount
fairly well distributed is ample for the
production of crops The autumn and
winter months are relatively dry, and
that is a distinct advantage in view
of its conserving effects upon the soil.
In the future. as in the past, the rain
fall will be irregular, ranging from ten
inches below to ten or fifteen inches
above the normal; but the general aver
age will be maintained. And we may be
sure that the next half century will
bring practically the same average of
rainfall and temperature as you have
had during the past fifty years
earth. and it is impossible to secure
equable temperature in the center of a
great continent. There are regions
where the conditions are more agree
able to invaIids, and to the 1ndOlent,
where delicate fruits and nuts may be
produced at small cost of care or Ia
Dor; but no portion of the earth's sur
face is better adapted to the develop
ment of hardy. stalWart and brainy
people than this fertile state, where
the conditions incite men to strenu-
Gus life. Being unable to change the
physical laws, it is the part OF wisdom
to fall into line with them and study
the art of adaptation, using all the re-
sources of art and ingenuity in I'M
proving your environment. We may
hedge against the winds, though we
may not be able to change their dlrec-
ton and force. Even though there are
some more favored regions in respect
to climate, the most of US must take
up our abode where the great staples
of food are produced, to keep the peo-
| pie at the winter resorts from starving.
"Out here in Kansas history will re-
peat itself with some variations, surei
4 You will have seasons of shortage and
| excess of moisture, as in the past. But
/ YOU will profit by experience, and by
| foresight you will not suffer the same
| measure of loss. By more thorough
/ tillage the fields will better retain
/ moisture and be better able to with
stand drouths. You have now great
er variety of crops than formerly. You
! don't make the mistake of putting all
your eggs under one goose.
$50 my message to the farmers of
| Kansas is to stand by the state keep
! your farms, stand pat and don't ex-
! press a doubt as to the benefcence of
/ Providence in giving you such a good
| ly heritage of soil and climate. Stand
/ four square to every wind that blows,
and let it blow"
The Care of Soil.
H A. Huston of St. Louis spoke on
] the subject of "Shall We Use or Abuse
! Our Soils?'' He said in part:
'sThree substances, nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash, the so-called
essential plant foods. must be furnished
to agricultural plants in the right
amounts. in the right forms and at the
right times if we are to make a proper
use of our soils.
1.-THE proper use of a soil means, pro
ducing as great and as profitable crops
as possible without impairing the pro-
ductivity of the soil
zone of the functions of a soil was to
/ furnish food to the plants. Now this
function is an exceedingly complex one
for many conditions and organisms are
involved in rendering the plant food
available to plants. There are certain
wen proven laws that must be kept in