13 



instructive to note, however, that while the speakers from 

 the East and the Great Plains area — the Dakotas, Kansas, and 

 Nebraska — emphasised the need of fertility and the rotation 

 of crops, those from the Far West or Great Basin area — 

 Utah, Idaho, and Nevada — spoke altogether on the subject of 

 the conservation of moisture by means of the summer fallow. 



IV. That in dry-farming not only rainfall but also evaporation 

 must be carefully studied. This most important point was 

 brought out by Dr. L. J. Briggs, Physicist to the National 

 Department of Agriculture. 



V. That the dry-farm is largely a live stock problem, and that 



agricultural farming and stock farming should be combined 

 as much as possible. 



VI. That irrigation — by means of windmills and small dams — 

 should be allied to dry-farming whenever practicable. 



VII. That the study of dry-farming is lending new interest, hope, 

 and dignity to western agriculture. 



During the congress a resolution was passed condemning all dishonest 

 advertising, several speakers stating that the cause had been damaged 

 by unscrupulous agents booming worthless land. Further, the name 

 Trans-Missouri was dropped in view of the fact that the congress had now 

 become an international affair, and the simple term " Dry-farming 

 Congress " was adopted. s Arid farming which is largely used in Utah 

 was also rejected, as well as the term Scientific Soil Culture. 



The following foreign delegates were present and a whole evening was 

 devoted to their papers. Senator James H. McColl, of the Commonwealth 

 of Australia, was unanimously elected Chairman, and worthily upheld the 

 parliamentary traditions of the British Empire. 



(1) H. W. Fairfield, Esq., Dominion of Canada. 



(2) Senor Eomulo Escobar, Mexico. 



(3) Joseph A. Eosen, Esq., Eussia. 



(4) Dr. Lawrence Baeta-Neves, Brazil. 



(5) Dr. William Macdonald, Transvaal and British Colonial Office. 



(6) Senator James H. McColl, Commonwealth of Australia, 

 Chairman of Congress. 



(7) D. W. Warner, Esq., Province of Alberta. 



President Eoosevelt's telegraphic message to the congress ran 

 thus : — 



" I wish to extend to you greetings and congratulations upon your 

 third annual meeting. I am deeply interested in the progress of your 

 work. Any organisation having for its purpose the development of the 

 agricultural resources of the great semi-arid sections of the United States 

 should have the hearty support of all good citizens. I am in full sympathy 

 with your efforts and appreciate hardships, privations, and difficulties 

 with which the pioneers among the mountains and on the great plains 

 have to contend. Eest assured that so far as lies within my power, every- 

 thing that can be done to aid you will be done. The reclamation of our 

 lands through irrigation, the conservation of our forests, and other natural 

 resources, and the development of our semi-arid lands by such methods 

 as you are now advocating, all tend to insure the growth and well-being of. 

 this country. I trust that your meeting will be a great success and will! 



