The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-10-14

advised that blowing should be done
six inches deep; the soil should be
we'll pulverized; all crops should be
drilled in rows instead OF broadcast:
the rows should not be, close to-
gether and the stretches between
the rows. should be cultivated fire.
quently by proper implements to pre-
serve dust: mulch during the spring.
After Mr.. Campbell had studied
the records Of precipitation and
noted the condition of Vegetation he
insisted that there must be more
rain fall or snow fall than the
record indicated. His trip and OBJ
servations were made at a time when
there had been frequent showers for
a month or SO and il he had visited
those regions in August his impress
sions might have been somewhat
different. Il
Mr.. Campbell is very high
authority on these questions and in
all the regions where he has made a
thoro. study OF soil and climate his
Judgment has been almost aunerring.
He Is sfxty-nine years old and dur
ing the last half of his life he has
been teaching dry farming as dis
covered by himself on the plains of
western Kansas and Nebraska. He
started by cultivating the surface to
preserve the moisture in the ground
instead Of letting it escape thru. the
crevices that open up after shower.
He began his teachings by going
across the fence or across the road to
call the attention of his neighbor To
the difference in methods and the diff
ference in results. When these
nighbors adopted his methods they
together induced other neighbors to
visit their farms and they assembled
in little groups at the cross roads and
heard Mr.. Campbell's explanation of
the reasons for the differences as
they were being practiced. Follow
ing this he addressed farmers meet
ings assembled in tn school houses
OIL the great plains and then followed
mp the work by publishing his maya
zine, "Campbell's Dry Farmer at
Lincoln, Nebr., and lecturing in many
states.
The Southern Pacific railroad has
secured his services and he travels
over the country tributary to their
roads Investigating and advising as
to the methods of cultivation. He
is known as the father of dry farm
ing and his work has been taken UP
by the great western railroads and
many other powerful agencies that
have been instrumental in develop
ing the semi-arid lands of the west.
Many able men among his diciples
are carrying on the work that he
started.
w. j. Paxman of Nephi is said to
be almost as well informed on the
principles of dry farming as Mr..
Campbell himself and he expressed
the belief that farmer having 800
acres of the kind of land they saw
in the Lost river region, and who
should find as much as 240 acres in
the tract that was desirable and not
broken up by streaks and spots of
land unfit for cultivation, that dry
farmer could succeed on it. He said
it would mean blowing and cultiva-
ton on the line suggested by Mr..
Campbell and especially should there
be the PROF er implements for cult |
waiting between the rows of grain and |
all agreed that scattered dry farm
ers should conduct demonstrations
and test their results thru a series
OF years before strangers should be |
encouraged to go upon the land and |
stake their all on what is yet an ex-
pertinent.