El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-26

TO these figures for comparative pur-
poses, in the hope that you may see
the justice of giving this little addi-
tional sum to a work that has alreadv
produced results in grain, cereal and
feed growing that are almost incred-
tble TO others than the people actually
engaged in it.
Monden an Advocate.
Mr. Mondell-Mr. Chairman. rise
to support the amendment offered by
the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Mar
tin), and in doing so, / do not intend
any criticism of the action of the COM
mtttee. / am much interested in the
experiments proposed, and should have
appeared before the committee and ask
ed for an increase of this item had ii
not been for the fact that 1 understood
the committee was going to insist upon
keeping within the estimates 1 un-
derstand they did so in this case, and
that there is a reduction of a few dol
lars
There is no more important work,
Mr.. Chairman, before the government
to-day than that which has to do with
that magnificent conservation move
ment which proposes to show the farm
ers of America how to grow crops with
a minimum of rainfall. They who live
in regions Of abundant and superabun-
dant rain have conceived the notion
that there must be a superabundance
of rain in order that crops may be
grown prcfitably, that we must pillow
through snow in the winter and mud
in the summer in order TO produce
crops. There is no greater error. Many
agricultural crops can be produced
profitably with a very limited precipi-
tation- At one time 80 inches was con-
sidered to be the minimum.
Proof Is Offered.
The farmers of the plains proved that
crops could be grown with 20 inches
Of precipitation, and recent experiment
tation and demonstration have proved
that profitable crops of all cereals and
many vegetables and fruits can be pro-
duced on certain soils with a precipita-
ton as low as 16 inches or even less
The only public lands now open - to
homestead entry, except those that can
be reclaimed by Irrigation, are what
are known as "dry lands" These lands
are the hope of the nation. so far as
new grain raising lands are concerned
1t is highly important that congress
should aid in every way the men who
are endeavoring 10 develop from these
flinty soils fruitful fields They have
done marvellous work with but little
aiu from the government They have
gone into a territory where conditions
are trying where, but for their eff
fort, the land is of little, value, and
they make the land valuable by scfen-
tific methods Of cultivation.
Dry farming, socalled, Is a scientific
method which will not only make mil.
lions Of acres of public land. hereto
Tore considered almost worthless. val.
liable. but these same scientific meth.
DDS are of very great value TO the farm.
er on the worn out lands of the east.
The same principles that must be
adopted in order to make the dry lands
OF the west productive, If applied to
much of the worn out lands Of the south
and east, would make them productive
So that the dry land farming movement
Is not only a movement and deyeIon-
ment beneficial TO the west, but a move
ment which Will be of very great vsIus
to all parts of the country. The ammo.
priations heretofore made have beer
very small. In my opinion the ammo.
priation ought to be increased. as sue
gested by the gentleman from Colorado
and ! hope that the committee will sas
fit to recommend the Increase.
Another Advocate.
Mr.. Norris-Mr. Chairman. tbara ;s
40 other item, in my judgment. n iris
bill of greater importance.than this mar
tleular one We have an undeveloped
cIApire, and 1T is not developed for tho
reason that 1t has been considered in
the past as too dry for AGRICULTURAL
purposes. The chairman of the commit
tee, On Saturday last, in the beginning