THE IRRIGATION AGE. 31 



as compared to what is coming. That boom was based on wind, specu- 

 lation and theory, without any practical knowledge of the country or 

 its conditions, while the present move is based on firm scientific 

 agricultural principles. We are now beginning to know the soil, the 

 climate, and their relation to each other, as regards crop growth. 



We are not visionary, in our ideas as to the grand ultimate result 

 of general agriculture in the so-called dry or sub humid belt. 



This great belt of country, that is so attractive to the eye of the 

 observing traveler, and by its general appearance persuaded so many 

 to invest in a home or for speculative purposes in its broad acres in 

 the early 80's and upon which so many air-castles of enormous magni- 

 tude were built with glowing and bright prospects, is today the same 

 attractive belt, with a -future unsurpassed for grand possibilities. 

 Now, I hear you say, '-Why waste ink and paper in over-drawing that 

 forsaken country again? The rainfall is not sufficient to grow crops 

 every year; therefore, farming is too uncertain, and you can't make 

 the country any different by all this high coloring. If you had the 

 rainfall they have in Ohio, you might talk." 



Ah, yes. Now you have hit the key to the situation. It is the 

 fact that we do not get the average rains they have in Ohio that makes 

 our country so exceedingly desirable. We would not have so rich and 

 fertile a soil if we had so much water. We could not till our soil so 

 nicely; we would not have so many bright, sunny days; we would not 

 have that invigorating and health-giving climate, so entirely free from 

 miasma, malaria and other climatic causes of disease; we would not 

 have such beautiful harvest seasons; we would not have such lovely 

 roads both spring and fall, all of which are very desirable for both man 

 and beast. That the soil is rich in plant food is proven under almost 

 any tillage, when rain comes in sufficient quantities and at proper in- 

 tervals, thus proving that plenty of moisture at all times is all that is 

 needed to grow mammoth crops. 



Now we come to the point where the science of soil tillage comes 

 to our assistance, and to the observing student presents a very strong 

 and plausible argument why nature could not have done more for this 

 great belt. She has placed a soil upon its face remarkable in its ab- 

 sorbing qualities for moisture, by the peculiar cell or column formation 

 of the subsoil. This moisture is very easily controlled; by the inter- 

 stices between these small columns the water is easily and quickly 

 carried down by gravity and by the close relation of the particles of 

 soil in these columns vertically. This same moisture is easily lifted 

 back up these columns by capillary attraction to the roots of the plant 

 as needed, just the same as oil is carried up the lamp-wick as it is 

 evaporated by the heat of the blaze at its end. One of the most re- 

 markable discoveries in soil tillage is the fact that certain 'conditions 



