DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



145 



minds of students of dry-land agriculture that the successful utilization 

 of much of our arid lands must depend largely upon livestock. As you are 

 well aware, dry-land agriculture became developed sooner and to a greater 

 degree west of the Rocky Mountains than it has yet east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. This is largely associated with the fact that the region west 

 of the Rocky Mountains is primarily one of winter rainfall, thus making it 

 a simple matter to conserve moisture and also an easier matter to grow 

 winter crops of small grains. It is also well known that under these con- 

 ditions successful crops of wheat have been grown on as little as ten inches 

 annual rainfall — less than occurs in any part of the area east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. In the intermountain region, particularly in Washington and 

 Oregon, there are many examples of where a farmer through the for- 

 tunate possession of a small piece of land that could be irrigated and thus 

 be enabled to grow a limited amount of crops, has nevertheless been able 

 to make a good living from the fact that the possession of this small piece 

 of arable land gave him virtual possession of a larger or smaller amount 

 of range land in the vicinity. 



Ease of the Rocky Mountains the even nature of the country and the 

 fact that practically all of the land is tillable has resulted in much of the 

 land being plowed up, even in areas where with our present knowledge 

 it is impossible for a man to make a living for his family from the crops 

 that he can grow on 160 acres. If in addition to 160 acres of tilled land, 

 the same farmer could have had 320 acres or more of land for pasturage, 

 he probably would have been able to tide over bad seasons with the aid of 

 his livestock. Indeed, many farmers have been enabled to succeed this way 

 by buying up the abandoned farms of neighbors at low prices. 



The lesson this teaches is, I think, obvious; namely, that much of the 

 dry-land region can with our present knowledge be successfully farmed 

 only where a considerable part of the land is left in range, by which the 

 farmer can possess a sufficient number of animals to supplement years of 

 scanty crops. 



CHAIRMAN ATKINSON: 



The following announcement has been sent up: The international dele- 

 gates will hold an important meeting at 2 o'clock on the first floor of 

 the Hotel Eaton. 



The Secretary will now take up the matter of the two presentations 

 on the program. 



SECRETARY FAXON: 



. Is Deputy Minister Mantle here? Mr. Gore, Mr. McOmie, and Mrs. 

 East, will you come forward, please, and Deputy Minster Mantle, please; 

 and Chairman Drummond, if he is in the hall ? 



CHAIRMAN ATKINSON: 



Just a moment: Mr. Bert Ball, of the Chicago Grain Exchange, is 

 here, and as we wait, we will be glad to have a word from him. Mr. BalL 



