PREFACE IX 



and King of Wisconsin. I am under deep obliga- 

 tion, for assistance rendered, to numerous friends 

 in all parts of the country, especially to Professor 

 L. A. Merrill, with whom I have collaborated for 

 many years in the study of the possibilities of 

 dry-farming in Western America. 



The possibilities of dry-farming are stupendous. 

 In the strength of youth we may have felt envi- 

 ous of the great ones of old ; of Columbus looking 

 upon the shadow of the greatest continent ; of 

 Balboa shouting greetings to the resting Pacific ; 

 of Father Escalante, pondering upon the mystery 

 of the world, alone, near the shores of America's 

 Dead Sea. We need harbor no such envyings, for 

 in the conquest of the nonirrigated and nonirriga- 

 ble desert are offered as fine opportunities as the 

 world has known to the makers and shakers of 

 empires. We stand before an undiscovered land ; 

 through the restless, ascending currents of heated 

 desert air the vision comes and goes. With striv- 

 ing eyes the desert is seen covered with blossoming 

 fields, with churches and homes and schools, and, 

 in the distance, with the vision is heard the 

 laughter of happy children. 



The desert will be conquered. 



JOHN A. WIDTSOE. 

 Jdne 1, 1910, 



