The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-31
DRY FARMING Is OLD
Attention Called to 1t Recently BY
Increased Population.
Methodical and Scientific Development
Demonstrates Possibility Of UtiI-
izins Advantageously Large
Areas of Land.


Hon. F. w. Mondell, member of con-
gress from Wyoming, at the recent
dry farming congress at Billings,
spoke at some length on legislation af-
fecting dry farming. Continuing he
said:
1.-The bountiful growth Of agricult-
ural crops in many and widely separ-
ated regions of our country, with an
amount Of annual precipitation which
few years ago we considered entire
ly inadequate, has so abundantly dem
onstrated the success of what we call
dry farming that 1t is no longer neces-
sary TO make elaborate arguments as
to the possibility and practicability
of profitable agriculture under condi.
lions of limited rainfall.
While dry farming is as old as
history. and has developed large
field of experience and information, as
well as a wide range of drought-re-
sisting crops, 1t is only recently that
the necessity of providing for our in.
creasing population has brought this
system OF agriculture to prominent at
tention In the United States and de-
veloped class of men who have with
characteristic American energy and
intelligence evolved dry farming from
a more or less makeshift and slipshod
policy into real science
"The development of methodical and
scientific dry farming has not only
demonstrated the possibility of utiliz-
ing successfully, advantageously, and
to the benefit Of mankind, large areas
of lands in the United States former
ly held to have no higher value or
usefulness than that of permanent dry
pasture lands, but has made clear the
conditions under which dry farming is
most successful. 1t has also pointed
out the necessity for larger area for
the energetic and successful dry farm.
er than Is required either under arti-
fetal irrigation or in regions of plen-
tiful rainfall.
Because crops are grown success
fully on the right kind of soil by thor
ough tillage, with a limited rainfall,
no one should get the idea that crops
can be grown on all sorts of land with
any sort of tillage and no moisture to
speak of. 1t cannot be done success
fully. On the other hand there are
in the aggregate millions of acres In
Guiding some extensive and many lin
tied areas where dry farming may be
carried on with satisfaction, success,
and profit which are now utilized only
for grazing.
above all things the dry farmer to
be successful must farm well, With
plenteous rainfall the slipshod farm
er may get along in "a way. the dry
farm is no place for him. OF course,
you will find doubling Thomases.
dry farmed extensively and success,
fully in Wyoming as long ago as 1892.
There are men who saw the results oe
that farming who are not yet con-
vinced that you can raise crops west
of the 0Sth Meridian without irriga-
ton. There are lots of such people
In the country. Do not spend your
time trying to convert them. It Is a
waste Of effort. but go right on rails.
ing crops and developing the country.
There are irrigationists, who are
enough to imagine that,
In some way dry farming Is a reflec-
lion on. or interferes with, reclama-
lion development. The fact is that
dry farming always has been, and al
ways will be. the companion and
Of irrigation development.
The two methods are practiced al
most universally In the same general
regions the world over. With the In.
creasing value Of irrigated lands and
the dedication of such lands to the
growth Of special crops Of high acre
value the encouragement Of the dry
land growth of cereals and OF GER
tain classes of fruits and vegetables
Is constantly augmented.
No fallacy is more prevalent than
the notion that the amount Of precip-
itation is approximately the same
throughout an arid or semi-arid re-
gion. The fact is that there is a wide
range in the amount Of precipitation.
owing to differences in elevation and
other Typographical conditions In com.
parattyely arid and semi.arid terri.
tory. i.(. g
Regions which are practically tles..
ert until reclaimed by irrigation oft
en- lie within a few miles OF bench
lands with fertile loan soil. and suf-
ficient precipitation for. profitable
dry farming. These conditions OCCUR
all over the mountainous and hilly,
portion Of the intermountain country
and afford many opportunities for
comfortable homes. &
/ II hail the dry farmer as one Of the
most potent factors in the develop
ment of our western states. Many
millions Of acres will remain perman.
emit grazing lands He, should select
his location as efully as must ths
intending irriga tor. If he does he win
find abundant Opportunities for the,
establishment Of prosperous dry farm
homes In the land OF sunshine and
Isuficient showers
ewarmine ,hahlte ofs1SAS.
Probably the thing most annoying to
the beekeeper To- the awarmink habit!
IL the bees did not persist iniiiyidtnk
their forces 90 frequently much more
surplus honey could be obtained. ana
the beekeeper himself would feel more
easy about his bees. In producing comb
honey ~ one pound boxes 1t u neces-'
sary to actually crowd the beea Into
the section boxes. Tor they seem ioath