The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-11-16
PROF. CAMPBELL
EXPLAINS METHODS


range for the lecture of Prof. II. w.
Campbell, which will be delivered
there Monday. Prof Campbell is one
Of the most eminent of the new school
Of soil culturists, and will explain his
system in every state west of the Mis-
sissippi river. While he will deliver
no lecture in Winnemucea, be will
spend Sunday here, the guest of the
Chamber of Commerce, and will be
pleased to meet citizens, irrespective
of their calling. During the day Prof.
Campbell will visit Johnson Is Grass
valley ranch accompanied by Col.
Place and J. P. Grandel.
In recent issne the Los Angeles
Times has the following to say of
Prof. Campbell and his methods:
One hears Hardy w. Campbell of
Lincoln talk of scientific soil culture,
known to the layman as dry farming,
and Immediately ceases to wonder at
the amazing growth of the back to the
soil' movement. This man, to whom
is due the credit Of being the originat-
or of the so-called dry farming, says
that with the climatic conditions of
i California, thousands of acres of sup
! posedly barren land may be made pro
/ ductive and with the proper care will
afford more than good living to
! home hungry colonists from other
states.
At the Van Nuys, last night, the
man whose discoveries along agricul-
tural lines is gradually revolutioniz
ing the farming industry of the world
told of accidental discoveries which led
to deeper study and of the marvellous
i results obtained, not only in this coun-
try where put into practice, but also
+ in Germany. Spain, Hungary, Russia
and other foreign countries where ex
periments have been carried on for the
past four or five years. Under the
auspices of various civic organizations
Of this and other cities of the Pacific
coast, this pioneer in an old industry
probably viii deliver series of lee
lures lasting through December and
January, in all the coast states.
Interesting Growth.
The story of the growth Of the
scientific principles and of the in
creasing knowledge of how to apply
these principles so as to produce tan
gible and sure results is an interest
ing one. The trend Of thought start
ed in 1888, occasioned by the almost to-
tai failure of crops that year, did not
find its fullest realization until 1894,
when marked results We're obtained in
South Dakota. From the small begin
ming in one state according 10 its or
iginator, the movement has spread un-
til successful experiments have been
tried even in interior India.
s'There is just one truth concern
ing this theme, which makes it a
matter of the deepest interest to ev-
erv man, woman and child in the
world,' Campbell said, "That truth
is, that it absolutely eliminates any
possibility Of crop failures. Needless
to say the success of the world de-
pends on the success of the agricul-
tural production and certainly any
thing that augments this production
and guarantees against failure of
crops, is matter of moment to all. =
Requested to explain just what is
meant by so-called dry farming, the
paradoxical reply was that dry farm
ing is not dry farming at all The
name apparently has fastened itself
upon the system because of its pro-
nounced success in semi-arid country.
'The growth of all plants, Camp
bell explained, "depends upon the
physical condition of the ground; that
is, the condition whereby the proper
per cent of air and water may be com
bined through the influence of heat
and light. The condition of the soil,
which is prerequisite of good crops, IS
obtained through what we call summer
tilling. This applies to irrigated as
well as other land, in fact large per
cent of irrigated land if given the
proper kind of culture at the proper
time will produce better results with
the use of one-fourth to one-third the
water now used -
Objection Falls.
Tt was explained that some criticism
has been offered against the plan be-
cause Of the objection that one-half
of a man s land must lie idle or at
least non-produetive This objection is
based on the fact that under the sell
entifc soil culture system crops are
grown upon given land every other
season the farmer preparing part Of
his land while planting the other part.
This objection, according to Campbell,
is not we'll founded when one takes in
to consideration that the yield on the
acreage planted is twice and some
times three times as great as under
the old way of farming, and IN addi-
ton the farmer is assured Of a crop,
with no fear of failure Getting right
down to brass tacks Campbell told how
the ground is gotten into what he con
siders ideal condition for planting
"The thing most necessary, he SAID,
s'is to SO till the soil that it will re-
tain the moisture. In ordinary piow-
ing the later surface is left in such 8
condition that the water reaches the
surface or the roots of the plant only
in certain places The moisture comes
mp by what is known as capillary at
traction and only where the soil is fine
and firm. Where it is left loose and
with clods, the moisture does no good.
Now to get away from this condition
we use a machine to pack the lower
soil The top layer or strata we keep
loose so the air can get through, while
the water VIII not come up to the SUR
face through the loose dirt. thereby re-