35 



known dry-farmers in Juab County. Mr. Boswell was the first to file a 

 homestead on the dry lands of this county twelve years ago. I arrived 

 on a Fast Day/ and, although church services were in progress, I was 

 driven out to the State Dry-farm. Another well-known citizen, Senator 

 J. A. Hyde, also accompanied us. Previously, each of the six Govern- 

 ment farms received practically the same sum, viz., an appropriation of 

 $1,000 each. It was soon seen, however, that this sum was insufficient 

 to do the work, and it is now thought best to concentrate more attention 

 on one central farm, namely, Nephi, and so spend less money on the out- 

 stations. It is also worth remembering that the college farm at Logan, 

 in the northern part of the State, is a stock farm, and grain and feeding 

 tests relative to the dry-farms are made there. 



Nephi is a picturesque town of 3,000 inhabitants, situated at the base 

 of Mount Nebo (12,000 feet). The Dry-farm Experiment Station is 

 situated six miles from town and lies alongside the railroad. It consists 

 of 100 acres (40 being the original grant and 60 more having been lately 

 added). This is enclosed in a woven wire rabbit-proof fence, costing $1 

 per rod (16^ feet). The land of the farm belongs to Juab County. The 

 main lines of experiment consist of various tests with dry-farm cereals 

 and tillage methods for the conservation of moisture, besides experiments 

 with forage crops. I was much struck with the excellent tilth of the soil 

 and the results which have been gained by the use of moisture-saving 

 fallows. All the grain looked particularly well, and was a wonderful ocular 

 demonstration of the success of the methods adopted. The rainfall varies 

 from fifteen to eighteen inches at the station, and comes mainly during 

 the winter months and very early spring. Most work is being expended 

 on wheat and lucerne, the two main crops of this section. The three 

 wheats Avhich have given the best results here are the Kufoid,f Turkey 

 Bed, and Gold Coin. The Kufoid is a native of Utah, and is the best 

 drought and frost resisting wheat in the State ; but for five years out of 

 six Turkey Red has out-yielded the Kufoid. The Turkey Eed has a 

 smaller, harder berry than the Kufoid, and yields even a finer flour. The 

 dry-land farmer of Nephi is never troubled with rust ; but it is not so 

 on irrigated farms. Two years ago all the wheat under irrigation was 

 ruined, and the irrigators, like the foolish virgins of the Holy Writ, had 

 to purchase a fresh supply, not of oil, but of flour and seed wheat from 

 the dry-farmers. Here it is a common belief that in the near future all 

 the wheat of Utah will be raised on the dry-farms. Dry-land wheat sells 

 at from 5 cents to 10 cents per bushel (60 lbs.) more than irrigated wheat. 

 You get more flour and less bran from the dry-land wheat. In short, the 

 dry-land farmers of Utah do not fear rust ; and they are convinced that 

 the spread of rust is largely favoured by excessive moisture, a stagnant 

 soil, heavy seeding, and lack of ventilation. 



Touching alfalfa (lucerne), forty-eight different strains were being 

 tested, and all looking well. Of grasses, Bromus inermis has given the 

 best result, and keeps green throughout the winter. The staff of the 

 station consists of a superintendent, and a foreman and unskilled hired 

 help. The State Government has appropriated $10,000 for two years for 

 this dry-farm (the Legislature meets biennially). The National Govern- 



* On a certain day each month only one meal is taken, and the equivalent of the two 

 forfeited meals is given to the poor of the Mormon Church. 



f Named after a Danish farmer, who found some grains of wheat in a prehistoric Mexican 

 mound. The best bread I tasted in America was made from locally-grown Gold Coin wheat in 

 Nephi. 



