DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



29 



arily the suggestions made by representatives of the Kansas State Agri- 

 cultural College, and I am sure that anyone familiar with the business of 

 farming in Kansas during the past three or four years is convinced that 

 the standard is considerable higher at the present time than it was five 

 years ago. There are more farmers in the state today that are farming 

 in accordance with the correct methods than ever before. 



We feel rather optimistic in Kansas about the future of our agricul- 

 ture. We also feel rather prosperous this year, even though the two pre- 

 vious years were unusually severe. Our tremendous wheat crop, together 

 with our other crops above normal, has wiped out the deficits, if there were 

 deficits, resulting from previous droughts, and we now have money on hand 

 to provide ourselves with more modern conveniences and to provide more 

 recreation for the people of the country. 



To summarize, I would say that our farmers have made remarkable 

 progress in this state in the past year along two lines: (1) in the employ- 

 ment of better methods in management of their land and in the growing 

 of crops; (2) in the utilization and marketing of the crops grown, through 

 the introduction of the silo, and more livestock on the farms of Kansas. 



Whether or not we are conforming to what is commonly considered as 

 dry-farming methods, I will leave for you to judge. Personally, I feel that 

 in addition to the growing of crops, dry-farming is broad enough to in- 

 clude the utilization of crops produced, and the management and handling 

 of livestock. Without the consideration of these two features along with 

 the production of crops, dry-farming will not accomplish all that it might. 



PRESIDENT WATERS: 



May I take just a moment to call the attention again, to the meeting 

 of the Congress of Farmwomen in the auditorium above? If the ladies 

 present are looking for that convention and have drifted in here by mis- 

 take ? We are glad to have them stay here or go up there as they see fit. 

 And if I may ask Dean Jardine to take the chair, I shall do so, as I am com- 

 pelled to go to another meeting for a little while. 



DEAN JARDINE: 



The next report is to be made by Andrew Boss, Agronomist at the 

 Minnesota Experiment Station. 



Minnesota 



MR. BOSS: 



While it is not strictly in order to talk about wet weather and rainfall 

 at a Dry-Farming Congress, it must be said that Minnesota has experienced 

 a year of abundant rainfall, good growing weather, and a year of more 

 than usual agricultural prosperity. The barns in Minnesota are full of 

 hay. The surplus is stacked in the open field in many sections of the 

 state. Notwithstanding the increase in livestock-raising in Minnesota, 

 there will be surplus hay for sale. The best crop of corn in the history of 

 the state is being harvested. The small grain crop is not quite up to the 

 usual standard, though the prices are good and the net profit to the farmer 



