DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



251 



are found growing in conditions showing not only extreme drouth re- 

 sistance, but, more difficult to attain, resistance to large quantities of 

 alkali in the soil. Interesting possibilities at once arise as to using these 

 as stocks for almonds and apricots, which are already known to be con- 

 iderably more at home in the arid sections than the peach. A number 

 of these wild types are more nearly allied to the old world Amygdalus, 

 which has given us through long years of selection and cultivation the 

 peach, apricot, almond and nectarine. It is a fact known only to a few 

 close observers of desert flora that some of these species, natives of the 

 southwest, produce edible fruits of a greatly variable character, and, in 

 a few instances, of fine quality, having a flavor and aroma all their own. 

 To the arboriculturist these facts at once suggest the possibilities of pro- 

 ducing many interesting hybrids with the old world types of Amygdalus, 

 from which floras they have been separated, perhaps since early Tertiary 

 times, geologically speaking. 



In Conclusion. 



The dry-land arboriculturist and agriculturist must be constantly on 

 the alert for every hint which nature can give them as to the possibilities 

 which may lie hidden in these vast regions between the fertile Mississippi 

 Valley and the Pacific Slope. 



In the foregoing paper I have briefly sketched a few of these possi- 

 bilities as they occurred to me. 



MR. BOWMAN, of Idaho: Prior to the report of the Executive 

 Committee I desire to make a statement on behalf of Idaho. To those 

 gentlemen v/ho pledged me their efforts and votes for the coming Con- 

 gress at Idaho Falls, I desire to thank you. The movement has grown 

 to such great and glorious importance that at the present time I do not 

 feel that Idaho Falls could properly house and feed you. For that rea- 

 son, at this time Idaho Falls will not be a candidate for the next Con- 

 gress. (Applause.) But I wish to assure you this, that it will only be 

 a short time until we will come and we will ask you to meet with us 

 at Idaho Falls, and whenever we do you can rest assured that you will 

 be more royally treated than you ever were in your lives. (Applause.) 



MR. HENDERSON, from Wyoming: Gentlemen of the Convention: 

 Being a representative of Wyoming, I appreciate very much the remarks 

 of the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Mr. Bowman. It takes a 

 big city to have the heart to say that we withdraw, and, gentlemen, it 

 takes a larger man to say "We withdraw," and in Mr. Bowm.an the town 

 of Idaho Falls has a big man, and some day we hope to see him face the 

 people of a greater congress than the Trans-Missouri Dry Farming Con- 

 gress. (Applause.) 



CHAIRMAN M'CABE: I believe the Committee is now ready to 

 report. We will have the report read. 



MR. HENDERSON: Mr. Chairman, there was one matter I forgot 

 in making my little talk. I went down to Mr. Bowman and the people of 

 Idaho and told them that when the time comes that Idaho is willing, and 



