The Greeley tribune., 1909-10-28
Secretary .uson To Farmer

The following letter from James
Wilson, secretary OF agriculture, was
read last week at the opening ses-
sion OF the Dry Farming Congress
lat Billings. Montana:
Mr.. John r. Burns, Secretary-Treas-
urer.
Dear Mr.. Burns:-We have dry
lands with light rainfall over nearly
half the American Republic. This
| department has begun a reconnais-
sance survey OF these dry lands to as
certain the nature of the soils and
what other facts that may be of value
TO settlers. Dry land is found all
the way between the tooth meridian
and the Pacific ocean, and ii will
take some time to make maps of all
the dry regions. We have made sur
veys of the west half of both North
and South Dakota and we are at work
or the dry portions of southern and
western Texas. We have twenty-one
dry land stations in the territory
mentioned, where scientists are To-
Gated under the direct supervision
of the department endeavoring TO
ascertain the best methods of manag
ing these lands and securing plants
that are best adapted to them.
The lands that can be irrigated
by the waters now flowing to waste
are limited. After all the water has
been applied. there will still be mil
lions of acres that must be managed
under what is known as dry land
farming. | am glad that the people
are meeting together in congresses
to study these problems. They vary
as the soils vary and as the eleva-
tions vary. The soil is usually rich
in mineral plant food, being the dis
integrated rocks. AS far as my OBJ
servation goes, the soil is quite often
deficient in organic matter. The
native plants We find growing on
these dry lands do not fill the soil
with roots, ana Ii S necessary that
we should find such plants either at
home or abroad. This department
is busily engaged in hunting the
world for legumes that will grow on
your driest lands and on your high
est line lands. and we are having
some success. Dry lands and lands
highly elevated and subject to low
temperatures in the winter are found
in other parts OF the world and the
Maker has supplied them with plants
that are good food for animals, and
these plants we are bringing to the
United States and propogating and
getting ready to distribute them. DIR
Hansen of the South Dakota expert
ment station brought us three new
alfalfas and new clover last year
from Siberia that we think when
propogated will help solve dry land
problems in the west.
If NAV he OfferiDp a challap 90
to your Congress for me to say that
| | am satisfied the system of fallow-
| ing, or cultivating two years for one
crop is in the wrong direction. 1t is
not necessary to adopt any plans for
I the purpose of increasing mineral
plant food, that is abundant gener-
ally, but it is necessary to consider
the replenishing of the soil with or
ganic matter so that the decaying
vegetation coming from deep root.
ing plants may help in retaining the
moisture. We look to the legume tr
help us out in making the dry areas
of the great west productive, be.
cause 1t not only enables the sol
to retain moisture, but adds what is
not found among mineral plant foods
the nitrogen that the legume bring.
from the atmosphere.
Your people will, no doubt. care
fully consider methods of cultivation
| will not go into tnat at this time
The necessity for retaining all rain.
that do fall upon the land and the
methods by which this should b,
done. are fairly well understood b,
most of our western people. w,
Will endeavor here to make careful
research and have it repeated suffi
GENTLY SO that we will reach SAT-
generalization, and when we hav,
this work done so that we are salts
fed we are on the right track, w
will print extensively and send tn
matter out to your people
Il wish your Congress a pleasan
successful and edifying time. On
OF the great captains of industry, MI
Hill, tells US we will be importin
heat before many years When W
have clear understanding of no,
to handle the dry lands of the west
we will grow plenty of whea
throughout the coming generation
and maintain the land in it's origina
fertility
with kindest regards to you an
your people, | remain,
JAMES WILSON, Secretary"
,