Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-09-09
IN DEFENSE OF DRY FARMING
Answer to Hayseed Harry's Article on
Dry Farming, Published In the
Chronicle Aug. 18th.

OFFICE OF
JOHN T. BuRss,
| Colorado Springs, Colo., U. s. A.,
August 80, 1911.
Editor Custer City Chronicle:
Dear Sir: We have read with great
deal of interest an article published in
your issue of August 18th, over the sig
nature Of "Hsysesd Harry" 1t seems
to US that in this case there is much in
name. If "Hsysesd Harry" would
study dry-farming as 1t really is, his
writing would exhibit greater degree
of intelligence and would, no doubt,
disqualify him for the position as q
writer of German humor. We would
suggest to the "Hayseed Hatry's" Uf
there should be more than one within
the circle of circulstion) that no one,
except an insane man, could ever expect
to produce crop without some moisture.
We would suggest to him that before he
attempts to manufacture sarcasm and
humor in the discussion Of dry-farming,
that it might be we'll for him to visit
some of the irrigation projects in the
West, also some of the rainbelt States
throughout the United States where,
because of the continued and unusual
drouth, there has not been more than a
sufficient amount of water for people to
drink, let alone for the growing Of crops.
No one, except "Hayseed Harry, could
find any cause for humor in the unusual
climatic conditions which have afflicted
some of the States, not only this year,
but last. The fact is, our "Hayseed"
friend to the contrary notwithstanding,
that in this very year of drouth there
have been thousands of dry-farmers
producing crops, and some of them
quite successfully, as a result of scien-
tific soil treatment.
AS matter of fact, if our humorous (?)
friend would study the situation very
carefully, he would discover the follow
ing propositions to be correct: First,
that dry-farming methods carefully and
systematically followed, are a reasonably
safe insurance against the effects Of
drouth, and that when there is any
where nearly what might be considered
a normal rainfall in the dry-farming
States, the dry.farming crops are bet
ter crop from the stand point of quality,
and often-timss as good from the stand
point of quantity, as can be produced in
any section of the United States; and,
further, that the utilization of dry-farm-
ing methods in normal years on both
so-called dry-land, as well as under irri-
CATION and rainfall conditions, very ma
teriuIly increases crop production and
quality of crop. 1t may be that "Hay.
seed Harry" has been doing his dry
farming by utilizing his chickens in the
making of mulch. Ifso, his failure and |
his attitude are explained.
"lIayseed" indicates that he believes
that the dry.farming talk was encour-
aged to help the real estate dealers. As
a matter of fact the writer would be |
glad to have "Hayseed" explain why he
is sore" at the real estate dealers, and |
what the West would do without real
estate dealers, and how he comes to |
think that real-estate dealers are back |
Of the dry-farming talk, when, as mat
ter Of fact, and fact that is commonly |
known among people of intelligence of
The West, the dry-farming movement
was brought into existence to educate
The farmers of the West into better
method of tillags and to combat the |
development of sections where dry
farming was impracticable, under cllm-
,tic soil conditions.
1t is a fact that the present year has |
been very costly one to many sections
Of the country, but the reports sent into |
his Office, from hundreds of dry.farm.
ing counties in the States where the |
1routh has not been too serious, show |
hat the dry-farming crops this year
have been profitable, wherever method.
cal work has been the rule, and in some |
sections of the country where the rain
iall has been exceedingly light, good |
crops were harvested.
Please inform "Hayseed" that it is
usually pretty wise proposition for
men to know what they are talking
about before they enter public argu-
nent, and that also he can learn how to |
dry-farm by attending the
Congress and Exposition |
N Colorado Springs during the week of
October 10th, 1911.
Yours very truly,
JOHN T. BURNS,
Executive Secretary-Treasure of The