, 1907-03-05

drought line, a constant, steady and
aver increasing attack began to be
made upon such Of the dry lands as
we're not absolutely desert and which
could not, by reason of lack Of water
supply, be reclaimed by irrigation.
All Sections Not Alike.
It is not true, as the majority OF
people suppose, that all parts Of the
arid and semi-arid region are alike.
There is a wonderful diversity Of soil
and even in the land of scanty rain
there are regions which, by reason Of
their topography and location, either
receive a somewhat greater rainfall
than the surrounding country or a
rainfall more evenly distributed and
the pioneers and settlers attacking the
dry lands from their point Of vantage
came to learn the character Of the
lands in the arid regions that gave
some promise Of reasonable productive
ness under careful and intelligent till
age and accordingly there developed
what has come to be known through
out the arid and Eemi-arid west as the
science of DRY Farming and In the
past two or three years, owing to q
rather unusual rainfall in some regions
a better distribution in others and a
better understanding of the methods
and crops adapted to the region ev-
e~rywhere dry farming, so-called, has
received a great impetus.
Al to Dry Farming.
The agricultural department under
the able and en~terprising administra.
ton Of Secretary Wilson, early saw
the possibilities of this class of devel.
opment and the experience of count.
less settlers for the last ten or twelve
years, and researches and experiments
of the department for the past four Or
five, have resulted in establishing q
few fundamental facts which it is I'M
portant that all who seek homes In the
uIy l6iuhlu6 Ac6iuho VI IAo WOSS scAouAu
understand and upon which We may
base a fairly accurate estimate of the
development of dry farming in the arid
and semi-arid states. 1t is o fairly
well established that certain classes
Of useful and valuable agricultural
products can be successfully grown on
good, sandy loan soils with an annual
precipitation fairly distributed in ex-
cess of fourteen or fifteen inches, with
proper methods of cultivation.
Some Good Crops.
The agricultural department has had
its agents securing the world for a
number Of years to discover plants and
crops suited to conditions Of slight
rain fall and has brought dry farming
alfalfa" from the plains Of Turkestan,
various varieties Of durum or maca
roni wheat from eastern Europe, for
age plants from all parts Of the semi.
arid globe. In addition to this the dry
land farmer has been experimenting
and gradually by selection has adapted
various plants to dry farming condi-
lions so that the dry farmer produces
wheat, oats, rye, barley, surghum, kaflr
corn, potatoes and all the harder veg
etables.
Caring for the Soil.
The methods employed vary with
the climate, soil and local conditions.
The motto Of the dry farmer must be
Secure all the moisture you can. hus.
band it in the soil. do not allow it to
pass from the soil except as 1t is TAX
en- up by growing crops." To econ
piish these results there must be deep
blowing, thorough tillage. avoidance OF
all operations which leaves freshly
turned soil unnecessarily exposed to
sun and wind, constant light surface
cultivation where possible - ~ to
keep q dust blanket on the soil AZ
all times, thus breaking up tie eaptl-
larry tubes through which the suEnce