100 



DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



just at the edge of the humid belt, and we have found that a rotation into 

 which corn enters produces fully as good results, after ten years, as ro- 

 tation by which grain is produced by summer fallowing. In other words, 

 we can get just as good results as in summer fallowing. How long a 

 period that will apply to I do not know, but certainly wherever that will 

 apply it would be better to raise a crop of corn than it would to summer 

 fallow the soil. The result is as good, so far as our experiments go, 

 from the growing of a crop of corn as it is from leaving the land lying 

 open, as in summer fallowing, during the summer, and there is no ques- 

 tion but that there is considerable loss of organic matter in the soil during 

 the period of summer fallowing. Just how much we do not know. We 

 are carrying on experiments to determine that. In time, however, it 

 ma}' be we will be able to answer that more in detail. 



I have taken up more of your time than I intended to. I thank you 

 for your attention. (Applause.) 



MR. WHITBY, of Utah: What amount of precipitation did you have 

 on that plat you gave us this morning? 



]\IR. CHILCOTT: I am sorry to say I am not able to tell you just 

 what the precipitation was at that place. The normal precipitation is in 

 the neighborhood of twent}' inches, about fifteen inches of that coming 

 during the growing season; that is, from April to September inclusive — 

 about fifteen inches, and the other five inches coming during the winter. 

 That is the normal precipitation. I do not think the precipitation de- 

 parted far from the normal there during the past season. It may have 

 been slighth' less than that, but it was poorl}' distributed. It was too 

 dr}' in the early part of April and ]May, and fore part of June, and then 

 heavy rains came on, and it was too wet in the latter part of June and 



July.' 



That is another point that is often spoken of — how much precipita- 

 tion does it take to raise a crop? W^U now, that is very largely a 

 matter of distribution. You may have an ample precipitation during the 

 growing season, but if it is poorly distributed you may suffer one part 

 of the season from drouth and during another part of the season from 

 excess of rain. So that the mere number of inches that fall during the 

 season is a very questionable criterion for determining whether a good 

 crop can be grown or not. 



CHAIRMAN DERN: Gentlemen of the Convention: I desire at this 

 time to express my gratitude for the large attendance we have and the 

 close attention paid b}^ the delegates to the proceedings of the Congress. 

 It shows that your heart and soul are in the work; that you came here 

 for a purpose; for the purpose of exchanging views and learning what can 

 be learned from these distinguished gentlemen who have had the matter 

 of dr}^ farming in hand for years. But the committee that arranged the 

 program realized that you are entitled to some recreation in addition to 

 the regular work and close attention you are paying to business, and I 

 want to call your attention to the entertainment which is provided for you, 

 and arranged for you tonight, such a one as can onl}' be given here in 



