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sible cultivation, it is somewhat strange that so little ha 

 been done in making practical investigation of what should 

 be done in the west to assure good farming operations. 



IDEAL FARMING COUNTRY. 



The vital truth is that the so-called semi-arid region 

 is almost ideally adapted to best agriculture. The soil is 

 of the right texture and capable of being handled to the 

 best advantage. The soil has all the elements necessary 

 for the highest degree of soil fertility. There is compar- 

 atively no loss by the washing away process. There is 

 no carrying away of the surface bodily so that the subsoil 

 must be transformed. There is practically no loss from 

 drainage. The soil is easily made loose when that is 

 wanted and easily compacted when that is desired. In 

 short, no soil is seemingly more ideal for general farm op- 

 erations. 



Then the very fact that the atmosphere is dry, as a 

 rule, is of great advantage, and yet so many had supposed 

 it a detriment. The rain comes in the form of a heavy 

 shower, and when it is over there is a dry atmosphere 

 which quickly takes up the water from the surface, and 

 with prompt action with the cultivator the formation of- 

 a soil mulch is therefore easily encouraged and of a na- 

 ture that is very effective. 



In short it is in the semi-arid region that the farmer 

 can best secure that ideal soil condition that enables him 

 to control the moisture which is needed for the growth of 

 the plant. 



Therefore we say again that no man engaged in farming 

 in the semi-arid sections has any excuse for offering apol- 

 ogies. He has the best natural conditions for good farm- 

 ing. It only requires that he apply science and a reason- 

 able amount of well directed labor, and his results are 



