204 State IJorticiillurnl Society. 



for many years but in the same section the water question has been 

 a serious one. 



Many have had to haul water from three to ten miles for the last 

 five months, and are glad to get it that way. 



One village of a few hundred people get all their water for all 

 purposes over three miles away. Neighborhoods have clubbed toge- 

 ther and driven their live stock fifteen to twenty miles away to streams 

 of water. 



This may not seem very strange or peculiar to some ; but I 

 consider the words too mild to express the real condition. 



Springs that have not failed before since the country was settled, 

 have not afforded a drop of water for months. Wild animals and 

 birds have had to move nearer to the borders of streams in search 

 of water, and in some cases, families have been compelled to move to 

 where they could get water. 



FIGHTING THE DROUTH. 



The drouth of 1901 will go down in history, no doubt, as the 

 longest and most severe for many years. But with all the loss, ma}^ 

 we not hope to have been blest in some way? First, it has brought 

 us to realize our dependence; second, to know that if we would suc- 

 ceed we must fight and this is my subject. 



In order to be able to successfully fight the drouth we must 

 begin in years when we have plenty of moisture. This can be done 

 only by proper cultivation and growing crops that will produce the 

 greatest quantities of humus and nitrogen in our soil. How to do 

 this will be told by giving as near as possible the cultivation of ni}'^ 

 own orchard since the drouth in 1897. 



After the crop of apples was gathered and the wood ripened, I 

 plowed the orchard, as shallow as possible, to turn under the vegeta- 

 tion. Spring of 1898 was very wet and cultivation was not possible 

 nor necessary until late. In May and June we prepared land thor- 

 oughly and sowed to cow peas. The wet season having destroyed 

 all the apple blossoms, there was no need of cultivation through 

 July and August. During this time trees set fine lot of fruit buds. 



Spring of 1899 commenced cultivation early by cutting cow peas, 

 sown in '98, into the ground by rolling plow and cultivated until 

 July 1st; then, again sowed to cow peas. Cow peas made a wonder- 

 ful growth and big crop. The peas often climbed ten or twelve feet 

 on limbs of trees. We also had good crop of apples this year. 



