The Springfield herald., 1909-04-09
HOW TO SUCCEED
IN DRY FARMING
IMPORTANT RESULTS OF THE
DRY FARMING CONGRESS
At CHEYENNE.
FUNDAMENTAL FACTS
PLANT ONE STAPLE CROP TO
BRING IN CASH, BUT SAFEST
RELIANCE IS STOCK.

(By Prof. w. H. Olin, Statistician.)
The Third Dry Farming Congress
demonstrated beyond the question of
doubt that some farmers on the nom
irrigated lands of the West with less
than twenty inches of rainfall made
good" in 1908, our hardest crop year
for more than a decade. The farmers
explained their methods OF growing
crops and had an exhibit of 1908 crops
which was an unanswerable argument
Of the truth of their assertions. The
orists might theorize and tell how 1t
should be done, but these farmers de
Hvered the goods" and told hundreds
Of visitors just how they succeeded.
most helpful feature for every new set
tier of the West. This experience meet
ing was a most helpful feature OF the
sessions Of the congress. They told us
that farming in the West calls for the
highest class of intelligence and that
We need to discourage the settlers
who cannot mix brains with the soil"
From the most excellent addresses
given and discussions heard, your sta
tistician cleaned the following as fun
damentals which every new settler
should realize as essential and all i'm
portant:
First-Choose soil adapted to farm
ing, with clay subsoil. Shun sandy
subsoil, since it tends to leach moist
ure and makes 1t difficult to maintain
soil reservoir, where, by capillary
action, moisture reaches the plant as
it has need. A sandy surface soil needs
different treatment than a clayey, or
clay loan surface soil. Hence, do not
treat all soils alike.
Second-Have one cash money crop.
but make the major portion of the farm
feed crops, which will give back to the
soil at least seventy-five per cent. soil
value of the crop fed, to keep up the
fertility of the farm and maintain hui
mus.
Third-Therefore, keep livestock on
the farm, the kind OF livestock to be
determined by the farm environment,
market conditions and farm capital the
owner can invest.
Fourth-Adoption Of moisture con-
serving methods of tillage is vital and
al important. Deep plowing, in the
average soil, is a requisite OF prime
importance.
Fifth-Use acclimated seed OF the
most drouth resistant type which can
be made to fit into purposeful, prac-
tical rotation for the farm. At least
one legume should be grown in all ro-
tations chosen.
Sixth-Some capital is absolutely es-
sential for all settlers on western
lands. In every instance OF failure
which the writer has been able to
trace in the last four years, he finds
in the start a dearth of capital. We
must frankly, candidly and fairly state
that some capital here, as elsewhere,
is required to build home. The
writer would hesitate to urge man to
bring his family to open up a home
stead who did not have enough to
stake him" for at least twenty-four
months. Instances were given at this
congress where men have worked for
capital, but 1t is running too great
risk to encourage any man to trust to
luck to pull his family through. Some
capital, then, be it asserted, is neces-
sary to found a home.
Seventh-Back of soil, climate, seed,
system and capital must be re-
sourceful, determined, intelligent far
mer one willing to learn from his
neighbors and to adapt himself and his
methods to his environment.
Such man is the one who will.
through utilizing flood waters. or well,
supplement the main farm with a vege-
table and fruit garden which he can
irigate when rains do not come at the
proper time for best results. Such a
man will give his family an attractive
home with modern conveniences
throughout, He will also make the
dairy COW, hog and hen bring in reg
ular income, incidentally manufactur-
ing cheap homegrown feeds into pro-
ducts which the market constantly de-
mands
Good business management often
measures the difference between sue
cess and failure on the farm.
1t has been the men who put In prac-
tice the three cardinals Of the congress
education, conservatism, cultivation
who are blazing the road for the rest
of us to follow.
We received at this congress the un-
qualified statement of farmers with
more than a quarter Of a century's ex-
perience, that they had actually made
good all these years. When We real
lie that these men represented the
varying conditions to be found in trav-
cling from western Texas to eastern
Washington, We wer made to realize
that "dry farming" so-called, in the
United States has passed from an ex-
perimental to an accomplished fact,
and is now on commercial basis.