The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-10-29
THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS
HAS INTERESTING DAY

Billings. Mont, Oct. 29.-The Dry
Farming Congress had an interesting
session yesterday ans heard some
good talks.
Director Newell of the United
States Reclamation Service. discussed
the utilization of dry farming and ir-
~rigation in methods of moisture con
servation. He said in part:
The ideal combination of condi-
lions leading to success in farming
in the arid and semi-arid west is
found where II is possible to have n
relatively small tract of well irrigat-
ed land adjacent TO a large area OF
dry farming and grazing land. This
permits of the widest diversity of &C
cupation and the rounding out OF an
establishment pracf ically complete
in itself. The irrigated land is capa-
ble of producing each year one or
more good crops which can be count
ed on with almost mathematical pre-
cision. Where the climate is favora-
BILE, fruit trees. berries. bushes and
garden vegetables flourish, and shade
trees or flowers are possible for the
beautifying of the home.
ION the adjacent dry farming land,
with ordinary skill and in average
years. the grains or other standard
field crops a he produced. Ii in *
ceptionally dry seasons or by reason
of hot winds these crops are not sac
c~essful, the irrigaied and tides over
temporary depressions until there
comes a favorable year when The
crops viii repay the b lost during
the lean years. The dry farming land
also serves a useful purpose from
time to time for a home n for the
cattle. and if the farm extends up into
the foothills to the summer grazing
lands the cycle of opportunity Is com
plete.
prom the irrigated area there can
always be had green fodder for The
cattle and hay can be cut for feed
ing during evere winters. This ideal
arrangement has been possible of re-
alization in a few instances on recla-
nation projects where the farms
could be arranged in such a manner
that 40 acres or more lie under a
canal with the remainder extending
above the ditch. Attempts nave been
made also to secure legislation by
which the owner of 40 or so acres
within the irrigated tract could OBJ
tain title to a large area of dry Ian
near the project. The suggestion has
also been considered of endeavoring
to ~segregate the dry lands which sur
round the reclamation project. making
these available for tne use of the en-
tire community as n general grazing
ground or home range to be cared
for by the water users association.
Alfred Atkinson, agronomist of the
Montana Agricultural College. Boze-
man. Mont. and member of the board
of governors of the Dry Farming Con-
gress, discussed yesterday DRY Farm
Drop Production Essentials" He said
In part:
Included in the aim of the Dry
Farming Congress Is an effort to
- A. r-1l~A 80 H. v-Arl1
the facts regarding the possibilities OF
the nonirrigated farming lands of
the arid and seni-arid regions. in or
der that these lands may be brought
into a state of usefulness: and to as
sist the farmers who take up these
lands to succeed anu become perma-
nent contented hosne builders in the
communities.
In the light of the knowledge so
far gained by farmers and investi-
gators, II would seem that there are
certain broad essentials which must
be obserSed III the farmers are 10 con
tinue In this branch of agriculture.
/ have chosen to emphasize two which
seen to merit the special conSidera-
tion of dry farmers. These are: Proper
moisture conserving soil tillage. and
due regard for the practices which
will maintain the soil in a productive
state.
The name of this branch of agri-
cultural science DRY Farming inn
plies an unusua condition in relation
to the supply of moisture. In fact the
only particular in which this class OF
farming differs from the humid or IT.
rigation farming Is in the matter OF
limited moisture supply. The farmer
must. therefore. direct his tillage n
cropping operations in such a man
ner as TO make the fullest use of the
natural precipitation. This is essen
tial in order that the plants may grow,
and equally so in order that the plant
food supply locked up Inv nature in the
soil may be brought into a soluble
state and so become available. Sur
face cultivation must be practiced at
nhe proper time. and early maturing.
hardy strains of the different crops
must he planted
AS new farming communities are
opened up. the tendency Is for those
VINO first take mp the N to start
a swimming process. BY this l mean
to grow soil reducing crops K wheat
or other cereals year after year. and
return nothing to the land to COM
pensate for the food elements remov-
ed In tho crops harvested II dry
farmers make this mistake II Will be
IN spfte of the warnings of past exper-
fsuces. The community, the state. the
natfon and h world nave an inter
pst ID the store OF plant food hell I'm
the soil - this Il . great treasure