Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-12-24
PROF. SHAW'S ADDRESS
THOS. SHAW IS ONE The BEST POSTED MEN OF THE
DAY ON AGRICULTURAL SUBJECTS--FIS ADDRESS
AT JUDITH GAP DECEMBER I6. 4
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle

Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle
men:
You have listened to some very ex-
cellent advice from Superintendent
Cooley in regard to the methods OF
cultivating the land III this section Of
the country, and; now want to
endorse what Superintendent Cooley
said when he stated that in his judg-
ment the seasons are not changing
materially, that is to say, we are not
getting more rainfall now than we
did number Of years ago. have
looked into that question in the state
of Minnesota, have gone over the
records for over fifty years, and
find, in regard to the rainfall in that
state, it would be. correct to say
that there has been no material
change. Now do not misunderstood
me: do not mean to say that some
seasons in Minnesota are not dryer
than others. for they are. hut the
point | want to emphasize is this:
That when you come to average the
seasons for Il certain period, say ten
years ut a time, there has been very
little difference in the rainfall during
this period. find some Of the wet
test seasons in that state were the
early years of settlement; find some
of the very dryest years in that state
were years after settlement first be-
gan, so have not been able to find
amy argument that will support the
view taken by many, 50 far rs rain
fall is concerned that with the break
ing up of the country we are going to
get more moisture than fell on this
land before farming began.
Now I would like to emphasize this
fact. want to leave 1t with you,
want to impress it upon your mind,
because the moment that farmer
gets it into his head that lie lives in
a country that has plenty of rainfall,-
from that very moment he is going to
become more careless in his methods
of farming than he would otherwise
be. l want you people to realize the
fact that you live in country that is
somewhat dry; not SO dry as some
parts of the state of Montana, ! am
ready to admit that, but it is what
would be termed country that has
less average rainfall tnan is neces-
sary, however, to get good crops with
absolute certainty, and by the ordi-
nary methods of cultivation, every
season, and hope you people will
bear in mind, in connection will, your
farming operations next year, that
the following year may be the dry
year, for if you bear that in mind,
you are Of course shaping your farm
ing operations is such a way that you
will be prepared to meet the dry year
at least in tolerably good form.
Should a dry year come you are not
going to have complete failure. do
not care how dry the season may be.
l think l am safe in saying that you
people, if you get a crop Of winter
wheat sown at the proper season, if
the crop Of wheat gets deeply rooted
in the ground and furnishes large
stalk before it goes into the winter,
and if the crop passes through the
winter safely, think | may tell You
without ever mistake, that without
single shower until the crop was
harvested, you are going to get not II
heavy crop, but you are going to get
a considerable yield of wheat from
your land.
Now, if | am correct in this state
ment, don't you see that an absolute
failure is an impossibility if you are
living in dry land country and
handle your land every yearas though
the next year will be the dry year?
l believe winter wheat is going to
be the principal money crop of this
country. SO far as grain is concerned.
but | do not believe it is the only
crop that farmers should try to grow.
which l will try to make very plain
before l get through with my talk
this evening.
Now, l especially want to say, if
you farmers will ask questions, and
those CT you who are not farmers,
will ask questions, l will be pleased
to answer them to the best OF my
knowledge and ability. ! want to
say to you that if make any state
ments that do not meet with your Ell
tire approval, instead of being Offend
ed for trying to put me right, will
thank you for the interest you are
showing in your desire to have things
stated rs they should be. am not
here tonight for the purpose of tell
ing you what to do, as Mr.. Lutz has
lived here and farmed for some 2!