Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-09
DRY FARMING CONGRESS.

DRY FARMING CONGRESS.
The Fourth Dry Farming Congress
will meet at Billings, Mont, Oct. 26
to %, and these promise to be large
attendance. Dry farming is in
measure a misnomer in that no farm
ing can be done in a region alto
gether arid. But by conserving the
natural rainfall in regions that are
semi-arid, good crops can be raised
and the land made productive and
valuable for crop raising purposes.
Old theories regarding the amount OF
rainfall necessary to produce crops
for market were exploded when farm
ers proved that with a precipitation
of seven and one-half inches they
were raising profitable crops under
the dry farming" method.
Estimates made by state engineers
land commissioners and others show
that west of the Missouri river there
are in excess of 200,000,000 acres OF
unoccupied dry land which never can
be irrigated, owing to adverse topo-
graphical conditions and lack of wa
ter supply. This acreage can be
farmed successfully under the intelll-
gent methods of cultivation advocat-
ed by the dry farmers. At a conser-
vative estimate, this undeveloped
area is capable of supporting 1,000,-
900 families, or 100000 people. Its
settlement will enhance the valua-
ton of every acre of property in the
west and will call into existence many
prosperous commercial cities. This
is but a suggestion of the magnitude
Of the world work to which the Dry
Farming Congress has set itself.
Thus. the Dry Farming Congress
has transcribed the, expectations OF
its founders and developed into an
international organization. Its mem
bership, less than $50 in 1908, had In
creased to $3.50 in June 1909, and Is
expected to pass the 10000 mark be-
fore the Fourth Congress is held
at Billings. It has reached out into
all parts of the world and has afhlia-
ton in every country where arid or
semi-arid conditions prevail. The
International organization, with head
quarters at 4O7 Temple Court, Den
yer, Colorado, is in constant commun-
ication with the departments of agri-
culture of a number of foreign coun-
tries and, through the departments of
state and agriculture Of the United
States, with consular agents through
out the world, assembl data re-
garding the progress of arid land ag-
riculture. The information thus OBJ
tanned is given to the members OF
the congress through the Dry Farm
ing Congress Bulletin, issued .wice
month, and to the world at large in
less technical form through the pub
lie press.
The Congress is working persist
emily along the following lines:-
First, to place in the hands of
every established farmer every item
OF legitimate dry farming informa-
ton, technical advice, statistics and
actual results possible to obtain.
Second, to create in the minds OF
the farmers the knowledge that they
personally must study the local soil
and climatic conditions, cultivation
methods, seed breeding, ETC., and
must study thoroughly along every
possible and legitimate channel to
increase their acreage results and the
quality of crops.
Third, to DreaK down any bar
riers of prejudice against dry farm
ing by giving to the skeptical pub
lie through every legitimate means
the exact information as to the value
Of dry farming. - ~
e Fourth, to investigate by means OF
field experts, the Possibilities Of every
unoccupied territory and to secure
the close cooperation OF every agri-
( cultural expert, both private and state
and government, in eliminating mis-
understanding and establishing well
defined method of securing results
under certain conditions. H.. j
Fifth, to secure the establishment
Of at least 20 experiments IN