38 



THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



Dry Farming Misnomer. 



"I object to the term 'dry farming' because rt does not stand for 

 anything except to differentiate it from irrigation. I am coming to speak 

 of bench farms as distinguished from irrigated farms in the valleys, 

 while I have no real objectons to the name 'dry farm' in itself, did it 

 not in too many instances call to mind the slovenly, haphazard methods of 

 the improvident settler who never made good anywhere and never will. 

 I am not afraid of hurting the feelings of any who may hear this paper, 

 for the reason that the class I allude to never read any of the agricul- 

 tural papers that are published for their special benefit. 



Live Stock Profitable. 



"Then again, in too many instances drj"" farming has come to be 

 considered as a cereal proposition, whereas the farm in the semi-arid 

 section should be a livestock proposition and small grain should be sec- 

 ondary. This is especially true of mountainous sections, where free 

 range is more or less plentiful. 



Dairy Stock and Fowl. 



"The attention of the small farmer should be turned to the dairy, 

 and pigs and chickens should occupy a large place in his farm operations. 



Forage Crops Necessary. 



"In order to handle livestock successfully more attention should be 

 given to forage crops than is generally the case. Soiling for the cows 

 should be followed in order to secure the best results, and moisture 

 conservation is an absolute necessity. 



Precipitation Reports. 



"The value of moisture conservation in Eastern Montana has been 

 demonstrated to the fullest degree during the past season. From July, 

 1907, to April, 1908, the preciptation, including the snowfall, was less 

 than three inches. None of this went into the ground because of frost. 

 The precipitation for April, 1908, was 1.04; for May, 5.20, and for June 

 2.85 inches, the total precipitation for the three months being 9.09 inches. 



Acreage Results. 



"Ojn this low precipitation turkey red winter wheat produced 30 

 bushels per acre, and tested 59 pounds per bushel; barley yielded 20 

 bushels, which tested 60 pounds per bushel; spring wheat made 15 

 bushels per acre and tested 60 pounds per bushel. At no time did the 

 grain or garden truck show any lack of moisture. 



Drouth Results. 



"The falling down in the yields during 1908, as compared with 1907, 

 can only be accounted for by the long continued hot spell that extended 

 from the middle of June until July 20, when the excessive drouth was 

 broken by a good rai'n. Until the first day of July I fully believed that 

 my spring wheat would make at least 25 bushels, my winter wheat be- 



