THE IKEIGA TjON A GK 29 



harbor even the shadow of such an idea; furthermore, the writer has 

 been one of them for the past sixteen years. The difficulty is right 

 here. The western farmer has quite recently been presented with a 

 problem of unusual complications and importance; in fact, so forcibly 

 has it been presented to some of us of late that we have grasped at 

 seemingly floating straws, with a hope that some idea might be found 

 that would lead to the general solution of this perplexing and all-im- 

 portant problem. Thanks to a kind Providence, some of us have dis- 

 covered ideas that are fast solving this problem, that of growing crops 

 absolutely every year in paying quantities right on the face of this 

 great American desert. 



The early history of the country now so commonly known as the 

 dry belt is too well known to need repeating. Suffice it to say that 

 about twelve years ago the greater part of it was looked upon as the 

 garden spot of this country. The seasons were very favorable, prices 

 were fair, and everyone seemed destined to prosperity of the most 

 flattering nature. It mattered little how the crops were put into the 

 virgin soil, the yield was invariably many fold. Then came a few 

 seasons of peculiar conditions, which led many farmers to theorize 

 that poorer tillage brought as good if not better crops. Then poor 

 farming was thoroughly tried and all good qualities of the country, 

 farmers and everything pertaining to them seemed to vanish almost 

 in one season. Then came the artificial rain fakir. It was another 

 floating straw; he said he had a secret; that if the poor, deluded crea- 

 tures only understood they could have rain at will. He had had ex- 

 perience; he pictured the wonderful fertility of soil, and then, with 

 plenty of rain, the .heavily laden fields. He wanted money, and the 

 people wanted rain. He got their money and they got experience. 



During all these puzzling days our attention was frequently drawn 

 to agricultural science, and today you can see its mighty work develop- 

 ing all over this great country in all its various branches. Much is 

 being developed in the various branches of dairying, breeding and 

 fattening of stock, etc., and any man who can look back thirty years 

 and recall the marked advancement from east to west along these lines 

 can but say with amazement, What will the next thirty years develop? 



The more recent sciences and of more vital importance to the west 

 are artesian irrigation; irrigation from rivers and windmill irri 

 gation; last, but not least, the science of soil tillage. To the latter is 

 due more consideration than the average man is willing to admit. It 

 is largely through this branch of agricultural science that irrigation 

 achieves its greatest success. It is through this branch of science that 

 general prosperity must return to the major part of the so-called dry 

 belt. It is the science of soil tillage that will make the great, broad 

 sub-humid belt the most beautiful portion of this great United States. 



