34 ARID AGRICULTURE. 



DRY FARM- The raising of crops without irrigation in a 



^ countl T i g n t new - 



In some parts of our own country, farmers 

 have been self-supporting on farms which receive 

 less than fifteen inches of rainfall per year, for 

 almost a half century. The general introduc- 

 tion of dry farming to all sections of the west is 

 a new movement. Men of little faith, with 

 much prejudice and less information, have raised 

 their voices in most vigorous protest wherever 

 the new system has been introduced. Some of 

 this opposition is righteous indignation over the 

 exaggerations of dry farm enthusiasts and land 

 agents. Regardless of such opposition, dry 

 farming has met with such degree of success 

 everywhere that it not only "holds its own but is 

 spreading rapidly. Many are quick to claim 

 that the successes are clue to excessive moisture, 

 but with the use of the two year conservation 

 method the normal rainfall is repeatedly proven 

 sufficient. It is now safe to predict that the 

 system has come to stay and that a considerable 

 portion of our range land will be made to pro- 

 duce more profitable crops than it does in native 

 grass. Many stockmen are wisely trying crop- 

 ping on a small scale. It is undoubtedly true 

 that many new settlers who think they already 

 "know all about farming" are destined to fail, 

 but the few will learn how and practice well 

 what they learn. Unless in unsuitable locations, 

 these men will stick. There are enough favor- 



