374. DRY-FARMING 
to make a living, yet this conservatism has tended 
to hinder the advancement of dry-farming and has 
placed the departmental investigations of dry- 
farming in point of time behind the pioneer investi- 
gations of the subject. 
The Dry-farming Congress 
As the great dry-farm wave swept over the coun- 
try, the need was felt on the part of experts and lay- 
men of some means whereby dry-farm ideas from all 
parts of the country could be exchanged. Private 
individuals by the thousands and numerous state 
and governmental stations were working separately 
and seldom had a chance of comparing notes and dis- 
cussing problems. A need was felt for some central 
dry-farm organization. An attempt to fill this need 
was made by the people of Denver, Colorado, when 
Governor Jesse F. McDonald of Colorado issued a 
call for the first Dry-farming Congress to be held in 
Denver, January 24, 25, and 26, 1907. These dates 
were those of the annual stock show which had 
become a permanent institution of Denver and, in 
fact, some of those who were instrumental in the 
calling of the Dry-farming Congress thought that it 
was a good scheme to bring more people to the stock 
show. To the surprise of many the Dry-farming 
Congress became the leading feature of the week. 
Representatives were present from practically all 
