The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-10-31
Aftermath Of DRY
farm CONGRESS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Oct
31.-The man who loves the sight Of
a broad-backed steer was in his ele-
ment at the recent international Dry
Farming congress here, for he found
his natural tendency upheld in opin-
ions voiced at practically every session
of the great convention. w. Frank
Gardner, veteran stockman of Stur-
gis, 8. D., was one Of the most pro-
nounced advocates of the livestock
plan of dry farming.
81 thought / had been put out Of
business by the new Settlers said
Mr.. Gardner, "but now / find that
there 10 more money in keeping 100
head Of better stock, better fed and
better cared for, with a small per cent
of loss than there was in keeping the
same number on the open range. Also
the more manure l can put into my
soil the more capable it viii be Of
holding moisture and the lesss it will
suffer when drouth comes. Dairying
in many sections of the northwest Il
rapidly gaining on horticulture and il
bringing in more money than any 9TH
er industry. The dairymen are consid-
ering the fertility of their soil, the
greatest asset remaining today to the
American people. Settlers in a new
country must accept system Of farm
ing that will bring quick returns in
actual cash. The stock business, e.
pecially the dairy business, will do
that
"Tt's the difference Of opinion that
makes horse races says old David
Harum. BY the same token, things are
always made interesting when few
dry farmers get together for com
parison of systems. At the recent In
ternational Dry Farming congress here
half the discussions concerned the rela-
tive merits Of various varieties Of
wheat for the dry farm. Now comes
Prof. E. H. Webster, dean Of the Kan
sas agricultural college, and announces
himself as "ferninst'' them all.
"The wheat farmer has NO place in
the development of the dry farming
aera,' she says. 1.-THE general failure
to recognize this fact has caused nm
told suffering and loss to settlers who
were enticed by misleading state
ments to occupy this country with the
hope of growing wheat for profit.
Wheat farming has certain require
ments of moisture and temperature
which are imperative, or the crop fails
The region between the Tooth meridian
and the Rocky mountains has proved
it's entire unreliability in this respect
At is destined, however, to become ons
iof the greatest producing centers fol
live stock in America.
"The transition from the opeI
, range to the abandoned wheat farm
has taught that forage crops are, to I
= workable degree, sure; that kafir
! milo and sorghum will produce sufR
, cient grain for the needs of the stOcl
, farmer; that the capacity of this re
! gion to carry livestock can be great
! L " increased over that of the rang,
days by raising forage and by winte
: feeding, and that the climate is ad
J mirably adapted to the livestock in
: dustry."
To insure success even under thes'
! conditions, however, Prof. Webster ad
} vised the farmers at the congress +
2 produce feeders rather than finishes
4 stock, to raise forage crops for winte
feeding, to care for those crops b.
/ siloing, to practice approved dry farm
! ing methods and to keeping bette
/ grade Of stock than now.
!. 1t is all very well for scientists I
o study and delve and dig for the ult
Z mate salvation of the farmer in tn
o dry land belt, but first tell him--an
9 do it quickly-what to grow that wi
I bring in money. This, in effect, wa
. the common sense principle voiced q
the International Dry Farming cor
r gress by Prof. w. M. Jardine, OF KaI
q sas.
o "The farmer isn't concerned abou
= fertility and nitrates and inoculatioI
: and things like that" said Prof. Jal
/, dine. "What he wants is living an
i he wants it now. We must help him
= get it. Show him how to do somethin
! now; tell him how to feed his family
. first, and then he will be in positio
Q to take up and study the more techn
. cal problems Of farm life"
!. Prof. Jardine told the farmers t
r. raise potatoes, az one of the sure
!. means of getting an immediate livin
II on the dry lands. For seed, he said
!. brief, use selected tubers, hand dpicket
4 If not too large, plant single tubeI
4 with only one or two eyes. 1t larg'
!. cut in halves. Two eyes are better tha
! six in seed potatoes. Plant in row
h three feet apart, and two feet apaI
4 in the rows, four inches deep. Subsoi
!, ing is fairly satisfactory. Plant Earl
r. Petoskey, irish Cobbler and Earl
:. Ohio.
~ xkr hAv