The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-01-31

The following paper was read by
Robert Gauss before the Dry Farming
Convention held last week in Denver,
and was exceptionally well received,
and for its value to farmers in New
Mexico the Record publishes it: I
Confronted with the problem of ag-
ricuIture in the arid region without ir-
rigatioa we are compelled to recog-
nize climatic conditions. The climate
of the region in question has not
changed. 1t is as subject as of old to
years of reduced as we'll as those of
excessive moisture, and hence if we
would solve the problem of what is
called dry farming" We must employ
methods not considered requisite in
regions of und rainfall.
Says Won MoItke's Methods
Apply Today Farming.
The central idea of Won Moltke's
strategy was expressed in his maxim:
March divided, strike united" Ad-
vancing to meet the Austrians in the
war of 1866. he sent the forces of Pru-
ooAa ~ oA ~
INNS on different roads,, bringing them
together a few days later on the field
when the victory which established
the supremacy of Prussia was won.
So we have three lines of action along
which we may march until they unite
at last in a complete victory over the
adverse forces of our climate. Tine
first of these is scientific tillage by
which moisture falling in the form of
rain or snow may be retained in the
soil until the production of a crop.
This is what is known as the Camp
bell system, and there is no question
that TO it we must chiefly look for i'm
mediate results and the speedy recla-
nation of the plain region east of-Den
yer. The second is the Introduction
of drought resistant plants from for
eigl countries where they have been
grown with success. This introduc-
ton of foreign plants is what scien-
fists call naturalization, and along
tina particular line the department of
agriculture has done nue. excellent
work. To what extent the species or
varieties found by the department are
fully adapted to the climat of the
arid region seems not to be fully de-
termined, although no doubt exists
that many of great value have been
discovered. 1t will be observed hat
naturalization or the Introduction of
plants from foreign countries does not
INVOLVE any constitutional change in
the plants themselves. Being more
or less drought resistant in the coun-
tries from which they are obtained,
it is Justly taken for granted that they
will be equally drought resistant mere
This brings me to the third line of
action, which involves what scientists
tall acclimatization. The aim and pur
nose of this method is so to change
tie constitution of a plant that it will
be fully adapted to the new climate.
By this means the range of orange
culture in Italy was advanced many
miles toward the north in the course
o a few years.
1t is a little over twenty years since
/ first suggested in the editorial col
umns of the Denver Republican that
by a process of careful seed selection
valuable species could De so changed
in their constitution that they would
thrive on the arid plans of this state.
In other words, the idea was one of
acclimatizatiol from humid to arid
conditions. The practicability of &C
climatization from a warm to a cool
climate had long before been demon
strated M when / began to advocate
my theory. it was a very doubtful pro-
blem whether the nature of plants
could be so changed that they would
thrive with a mount of mois-
ture. There was reaso for this diff
erence, for. theoretically. 1t may be
looked upon as easier to adapt 4 cot
ton plant. for instance, to the corn
belt Of Iowa, than to the dry lands of
the southern part of New Mexico or
the extreme western part of Texas.
However. I am 10 convinced that the
range of cotton can be greatly extend
ed in botn directions named.
Seed Selection and Plant Breeding
Bring Success
Ny method is the old one of seed
selection and plant breeding which
has been followed by botanists and
plant growers for years. l aim to take
advantage Of whatever variations in
the direction OF greater capacity to
resist drought may be disclosed and
to select eed from these plants which
exhibit this capacity in the most mark
ed degree. Il should b observed that
this process rs one OF adaptation To