DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



193 



rainfall that decreases as we proceed towards the heart of Asia-Minor. The 

 western coasts enjoy good precipitation and the southwestern has both pre- 

 cipitation and sunshine that makes it a garden spot abounding with semi- 

 tropical vegetation. The southern coast of the peninsula enjoys less rainfall 

 and consequently is either subhumid or nearly arid. 



The produce is made up principally of wheat, millet, opium and the 

 following noted articles of commerce: The famous Smyrna figs, tobacco, 

 and the valuable Mohair wool produced by the Angora goat. Grapes and 

 olives are also produced in the southwestern section. The method of farm- 

 ing is primitive and although the soil is fertile it is far from being all culti- 

 vated. Asia-Minor presents a very promising field for humid and sub-humid 

 farming and I believe the efforts of diligent farming will find a plentiful 

 recompense. 



Syria — Is a country . connected with history that should be familiar 

 to all Christian people; is a country that has similar climatic as well as ag- 

 ricultural conditions to your great commonwealth of Californiav The 

 coastal plain of Syria has, lying to the east of it, two ranges of mountains 

 that intercept the rain, shedding it along the coast. This plentiful rainfall 

 combined with a sunny, warm climate, make it a garden spot where the 

 citrus, fig, olive and vine flourish; truly a land as described of old, flowing 

 with milk and honey. As we proceed inward, we meet subhumid conditions 

 where wheat, barley and legumes are grown. Proceeding still further in- 

 land, we reach a grazing country which verges into the desert. With the 

 exception of a few efforts here and there at modern farming, the majority 

 of the farmers still adopt very primitive tools and methods, indeed almost 

 identical with those of Biblical times. 



Arabia — This is another great peninsula, the main part of which is a 

 plateu. Most of it is a desert beyond any possibility of reclamation. Here and 

 there the presence of water makes of the fertile sands of the desert a garden 

 that stands in strong contrast with the surrounding aridity. Along the 

 coast rainfall makes possible the growing of wheat, barley, dates, and the 

 famous coffee. Quantities of gum are also exported from that country. 



Mesopotamia — Once a country extensively cultivated by irrigation and 

 with a wonderful fertility, that the famous Greek historian Heroditus re- 

 fused to describe for fear of being considered as exaggerating the facts is 

 now cultivated in certain portions to a very limited extent to grain, rice 

 and dates. Another part of the country serves as grazing grounds. Meso- 

 potamia presents a most promising field for the dryland farmer and espec- 

 ially the irrigation engineer. The millions of people that it can support, 

 and the wealth and splendor of which it is capable, when its stream waters 

 are applied to its rich and deep arid soils, will be a marvel to behold. Suf- 

 fice it to say that it was once the country that gave the poetic prophets 

 of old their picture of the garden of Eden. 



This is but a brief survey which my limited time on the program has 

 allowed me to give of the country which I have the honor to represent to- 

 night. 



In closing, I would like to express a word in appreciation of the kind 



