The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-17
W0RST'S ANNUAL ADDRESS
AT DRY FARM CONGRESS
bead Of the North Dakota A. c. and Of the International Dry
Farming Congress Talks Of Importance Of the
Dry Farming Movement

tAh4ncu experts can make, and tbs
work viii continue for many years to
come. The cause Is worthy Of scien-
tific research, highly organized and
far-reaching. but should be sufficiently
conferred upon the pivotal question
moisture conservation ans the breed
ing of drouth resisting plants--to en-
able the farmer to adjust himself to
natures demands, that he may prosper
In proportion as he obeys her man
dates.
Dry Farming q Necessity.
The fact that nearly half the earths
surface is visited with less than twen-
ty inches Of annual precipitation
makes dry farming necessity. But
a fraction OF this vast area is suscep-
tible of irrigation under any circum-
stances. What cannot be irrigated
must be cultivated by dry farming
methods or remain uninhabitable and
practically uaeles: for human genius
cannot remove natural barriers such
as mountain ranges, which place a
limit upon precipitation. 1t can, how
ever, suggest methods OF agriculture
that may be adjusted to local condi-
tons; methods OF tiliage that will
prevent the unnecessary evaporation
of soil moisture, together with the
breeding OF plants. themselves econ
omic Of moisture. These factors taken.
together will tend to make agriculture
not only successful but profitable with
less rainfall than in humid districts
where as a matter OF fact. the total
precipitation during the year is FREE
quently far In excess of the needs of
the growing crops. Moreover, excess
OF moisture is likely to prove as de-
structive OF crops as deficiency OF
moisture and far more injurious to
the land. The fact must be admitted
that the swamps and the sea receive
q tremendous annual toll OF plant food
resulting from the ''rtln -off'' of humid
countries. This loss of fertility. which
is beyond estimate, must be made
good by some means, so that. between
restoring lost fertility and Installing
drainage systems. the humid coun-
tries are quite az severely vexed as the
semi-arid countries.
Rewards About Equal.
Considering the actual expenditure
OF capital and labor in either humid or
seEni-arid countries to insure agri-
cultural success, the rewards should
not vary greatly. or they will not vary
greatly when the principles OF dry
farming have been given fraction
OF the Investigation and study that
has been given to humid agriculture.
The tendency to take chances-the
curse of the Observation-Disclosures Is
more likely to prevail In humid and
countries than In semi
arid countries; for in the latter no
gambling in timely showers Is war
ranted and the farmer knows it, He
must conserve the moisture that
comes or his harvest will prove a
failure. Not so in sub-humid districts:
for there the majority of seasons are
abundantly supplied with timely mois-
tnre. The or seasons, however are
sufficiently numerous to keen the av-
erage profits OF farming at q minimum.
Even in humid regions with twice the
annual rainfall necessary to insure
maximum crops, occasional droughts
make serious inroads in many a farm
er's bank account.
Agriculture a scisnce.
Under dry-farming conditions,
therefore, agriculture will, of neces-
sity, assume the dignity OF a science
and the farmer in larger sense, be-
comes scientist. "a
Moreover. the thought and pains-
taking skill necessary to win success
under the dry-farming conditions win
impress themselves as visibly upon
the habits and character of the hus-
bandman as the laboratory impresses
itself upon the habits and character
Of the scientist. For not until the
farmer becomes master of natures
forces and acquires the
requisite knowledge and skill to adj
just his energies to her demands, can
he take his place and rank among the,
truly great men of action.
The further we press our investiga-
tons and scientific research, there
fore, the more apparent seems the
wisdom or God for thus preserving,
by means of limited rainfall, the prec-
ious plant food over 90 large q por
ton Of the earth's surface. What
has been looked upon az the
curse OF drought may yet. In the tight
Of essence, be interpreted as the mercy
OF an overruIing Providence.
Human avarice may exploit the for
ests and the mines. but not so easily
can the soil be exploited In the regions
Of limited rainfall. Substitutes. how
ever. may be provided for many Of our
natural resources, but there can be
no substitute for the soil. It il at
once the sustainer of ali life. the pro-
motsr of every human comfort. as
well az the fountain from which lows
the prosperity Of nations.
Little wonder then, that the Creator
should specially safeguard from human
greed this fundamental factor over
nearly half the earth, and compel men
to exercise his wits to secure profit
able crops, as he exercised his wits to
create the steam engine or to converse
by means OF the telephone
That limited rainfall IL q congerver
Of natural fertility Is beyond question.
Nature, evidently, in order to be eco
nomical OF the essential elements
necessary FOR the production of plants
requires more thought and labor to
force the sQil to give up its wealth
IN all regions Of limited rainfall. That
there are vast regions Of limited rain
fall. therefore. rather suggests the
wisdom OF the Creator. This senfi-
ment should not even disturb the men
tai poise of the skeptic: FOR though
half the earth's surface should ia
serni-arid iii character, this very fact
safeguards ii from waste OF fertility
On account Of excessive rainfall and
also makes II more difiicuIt of ex-
plcitataon on the part OF soil robbers.
Hence, when the farmer has mastered
the art of scientifically conserving
there Will be an abundance
Df both fertility and moisture to sup
port an agriculture that will greatly