100 



Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual, 



serving a sufficient quantity of water is easily solved by early discing and 

 subsequent plowing and sub-packing at the right time, and following the 

 details of your method of cultivation, so that the entire season's rainfall 

 may be stored and conserved for use to sustain and nourish the growing 

 crop during the summer months. 



With these two problems solved to my satisfaction, as they certainly 

 were under the adverse conditions of two very dry seasons. I became an 

 enthusiastic believer in. and advocate of. the Campbell Method of Soil 

 Culture. Practically and substantially, with these questions .settled, all 

 doubt as to the reliability and value of your system of cultivation was 

 removed and it became then a clear and plain matter to my mind that the 

 saving of the rain waters by means of the soil mulch kept in active service 

 by frequent stirring (according to your plan; and the percolation down 

 into the storage reservoir below where they are held for the season's use. 

 extraordinary crops may be grown every year. 



My familiarity with nearly every section of the western portion of 

 Nebraska and Kansas, and the eastern part of Colorado, leads me to the 

 firmest belief that what you have done in Cheyenne and Graham Coun- 

 ties, in Kansas, can be done in all those adjacent sections where precisely 

 the same condition of soil, rainfall, and climate prevails as in Cheyenne 

 County, especially, and very nearly the same as are found in Graham 

 County. 



In tree growing you have accomplished results that are almost 

 incredible to anyone who has not actually made the measurements of root 

 growth and the growth of the trees made in your orchard in a single sea- 

 son, and satisfied himself of the success in that work that can be wrought 

 by the practice of your system. I do not think I exaggerate when I say 

 that your tree growths and orchard conditions, attained by your system 

 of cultivation, aided by the soil mulch as taught by you, are as surprising 

 and valuable as any that I have ever seen under irrigation in Southern 

 California, where I have been a frequent visitor. I believe that before 

 you have lived the allotted span of three score and ten years, you will be re- 

 joiced as you shall look upon the measureless magnitude of a transformation 

 wrought by your brain and your hand, by which a territory nearly as large 

 as the continent of Europe, ( except Russia), and now treeless, bleak and 

 unsheltered, will teem with woodland groves, magnificent harvest fields, 

 fruitful orchards and gardens, among which the spires of numberless vil- 

 lages, churches, schools, and thousands of happy homes may be seen, all 

 comprising and maintaining a vast aggregation of intelligent and pros- 

 perous people. 



We are glad to do you honor and bid you God speed in this great 

 work which is of inestimable value to your race. 



Yours truly, 



C. A. Parks. 



