32 



DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



Montana 



PROFESSOR ATKINSON: 



I am just as sorry as you are that Dean Linfield is not here, but 

 he could not come. 



Montana is still on the map with her agriculture. The Dry-Farming 

 Congress was there about five years ago, but at that time dry-farming 

 had not progressed so far as it has at this time. There is still some irri- 

 gation for those who are coming now. The state has 93 million acres of 

 land and 30 million acres of that is devoted to farming. We do not speak 

 of Montana's dry agriculture alone, but also of Montana's irrigated land. 

 We estimate we will have 10 million acres also irrigated. 



It has been demonstrated we can grow wheat. The United States gov- 

 ernment gives us an average of 26 bushels to the acre for wheat. We can 

 grow oats, barley, and alfalfa and all those crops. The Montana farmers 

 have been impressed with the things Dean Jardine brought out and so the 

 question of dry-land possibilities in the non-irrigated land is now receiving 

 much attention in Montana. At the experiment station, we are frequently 

 asked the question, "What can we do for dry-land farming?" and a good 

 deal is being done in Montana to help out along those lines. We are doing 

 much with pit silos. 



Five years ago, I believe there were about 20 head of swine entered 

 at the state fair, yet this year 700 head were entered, suggesting the 

 change that has come. The method we follow there is to grow early- 

 maturing grains and grow our hogs along through the summer on al- 

 falfa. That is a common procedure there. Then, with the good food that 

 is supplied by the pit silos, livestock is coming to have an important place. 



We are afflicted with freight rates out there. Everything is high and 

 it is all due to the freight rates. With a 60-cent wheat, due largely to the 

 difference in the freight rate, there was not much profit and so the far- 

 mers are turning to the livestock business. But we are coming into a new 

 era of farming and'our agriculture is taking to permanent farming on a 

 permanent basis and of course, we will get other things. 



We have a good school system, and we are even getting woman suf- 

 frage. I thank you. 



DEAN JARDINE: 



E. A. Bennett, Dean of the College of Agriculture of Nebraska, will 

 tell us something about the progress of agriculture that has been made in 

 Nebraska this year. Is Dean Burnett not here? He has not yet arrived. 

 Then Doctor E. P. Humbert of the Experiment Station of New Mexico will 

 report for that state if present. Doctor Humbert. 



New Mexico 



DOCTOR HUMBERT: 



I very much doubt my ability to impress you much about New Mexico 

 following the great stories you have heard. I am reminded of the rather 

 green-looking fellow who came in the sleepingcar and sat down next three 



