192 



DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



climatic conditions also have their influence in turning his attention to 

 better methods of soil culture. 



You must not think that because we have not sent a large delegation 

 from the state of North Dakota, we are not interested, for the subjects 

 to be discussed by this Congress are of vital importance to us. The sub- 

 ject of improving the present methods of farming was forced upon our 

 attention the past season by the deficiency in last year's precipitation as 

 compared with the normal. I do not intend to convey the impression that 

 we had a crop failure in North Dakota, for with the increased prices re- 

 ceived, the net returns were greater tl an during previous years. But the 

 farmers realize that with improved methods greater yields would have been 

 obtained and their earnings correspondingly increased. They are, there- 

 fore, awaiting the report of this Congress prepared to utilize the re- 

 sults of its deliberations. 



For some classes of farming in North Dakota the average annual 

 precipitation, even though two-thirds of it occurs during the crop grow- 

 ing season (May to September inclusive), is not sufficient, unless more 

 effective methods are used than at present obtain. The object of this 

 Congress should be to place before the farmer of the semi-arid region 

 such methods as will enable him to receive the maximum returns for his 

 labor and materials. In this connection four great essential items are to 

 be considered: 



1. The fertilit}^ of the soil. 



2. Climatic conditions. ^ 



3. Productions, and 



4. Commercial advantages. 



Throughout the greater part of this region the soil is fertile and 

 commercial advantages are at hand, but the greatest productions can only 

 be obtained when every possible advantage is taken of the climatic condi- 

 tions. Thus the conservation of soil fertility, under which are embraced 

 moisture and efficiency, is really the deciding factor in the success or 

 failure of the farmers of this great area. 



There are many matters relating to this subject upon which the av- 

 erage farmer will not take the time or trouble to inform himself. But 

 the words "Surface cultivation" have a familiar sound to him, and when the 

 functions of the dust blanket or dry mulch are explained, he readily grasps 

 the idea. As I stated before, in order to reach him we must first have him 

 in a receptive mood, then we must speak or write our ideas in language 

 that he can understand. Bacteria or germs in the soil, which according 

 to Prof. Beckwith of the North Dakota Agricultural College, v/ere found 

 in the almost incredible number of three hundred millions (300,000,000) per 

 ounce in soil in the vicinity of the college, is a subject that is not so 

 easily understood. But we can outline to the farmer the methods whereby 

 these germs may be made to multiply or decrease as the needs may re- 

 quire, and how, by the use of fertilizers, such as lime, potash, phosphoric 

 acid, etc., the best i)ossil3le returns can be made, without the necessity of 

 thoroughly understanding the chemical changes that must take place 



