DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



207 



I have a communication from one of our delegates addressed to Presi- 

 dent Harris which I think well to read: 



"It is with deep regret I am obliged to take my departure before the 

 close of the session, and wish to thank the state of Utah and the city of 

 Salt Lake for their kindness to me as a delegate. Your beautiful city, min- 

 ing enterprises and dry farming productions are only second to your true 

 western hospitality." Signed James Brunker, Akron, Colorado. 



Thinking some of the delegates might be looking for a little sport 

 before they return home someone has requested that I announce a basket- 

 ball game at the Y. M. C. A. at eight o'clock this evening. You are all 

 invited to attend. " 



We are informed that there is a large number of the Christmas edition 

 of the Deseret Evening News that contains a great deal of information, 

 statistics and general good reading for every man to have, and these are 

 free to the delegates and can be secured by calling at the Bureau of Infor- 

 mation, in the Temple block. 



PROF. CHILCOTT: Your Committee on Resolutions recommend 

 the adoption of the following resolution: 



"Resolved, That the Trans-Missouri Dry Farming Congress in con- 

 vention assembled extend to the Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, the thanks of the Congress for the great interest he has shown 

 in the subject of dry land agriculture." 



On motion duly seconded the resolution was adopted by the Congress. 



PROF. CHILCOTT: The committee has also reported favorably upon 

 the following resolution: 



"Whereas, We realize the necessity of the thorough scientific inves- 

 tigation of dry farming conditions to determine the best systems of culti- 

 vation and crop rotation, the influence of conditions of soil and climate on 

 crop yields, the best methods for conserving the soil moisture and main- 

 taining the fertility of the soil, the relation of soil bacteria to crop pro- 

 duction, the best varieties of grain and forage crops, and the development 

 of more hardy varieties through seed selection, individual plant selection 

 and seed introduction, and 



"Whereas, We recognize that the growing of livestock is fundamental 

 to a permanent agriculture for the dry lands, and that dairying and the 

 selection of types of cattle particularly adapte'd to dry farming conditions, 

 the raising of trees and shrubs .and the growing of fruits are of funda- 

 mental importance in the building of permanent homes in the semi-arid 

 west; 



"Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Trans-Missouri Dry Farming Con- 

 gress expresses its hearty appreciation and approval of the action of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 in establishing stations in the semi-arid west in co-operation with the sev- 

 eral state Experiment Stations, for the scientific investigation of dry farm- 

 ing; and 



