THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



39 



tween 40 and 45 bushels and my barley field 40 bushels per acre The 

 grain was all in the milk and plump and full, the winter wheat showing 

 six rows. It was not until the last few days before cutting that the 

 barley showed any signs of blight. Then the ends of the heads turned 

 white, and black grains began to appear. Then, for the first time, we 

 realized that the yield was going to be lower than the previous year. 



Causes of Failure. 



"From a careful study of the situation I am led to believe that the 

 partial failure was due to the heat and not to any lack of moisture. The 

 hot spell was phenomenal for that section, being the longest and hot- 

 test period ever known in Eastern Montana. The nights, however, were 

 cool, which undoubtedly prevented a more serious loss, or perhaps a 

 more or less total failure. 



Results of Methodical Work. 



"In sections lying farther to the north, where farming methods are 

 more or less slovenly, crop failure was a rule, and fair to good crops 

 the exception; but even there, wherever a farmer took any special care 

 to prepare his seed bed and conserve the moisture, fair to good crops 

 were the result. 



Soil Treatment. 



"The most marked example of the benefit of thorough tillage was 

 to be observed in the orchard at Broadview. There the soil was kept 

 in a fine tilth by using the Acme harrow, and at no time during the 

 summer was there any lack of moisture, although it did not rain from 

 June 10 until July 20, as was said before. The wild sod on land lying 

 just outside the orchard fence was baked and dry, and the breaking 

 plows had to be laid aside about the middle of June. The engine gang 

 plows were run a little later, but all breaking had to be stopped by 

 July 1, not to be started again until the fall rains set in. 



"I have gone thus carefully into the situation, and from what I 

 can learn similar or worse conditions existed to the east of us, and 

 profitable crops were the exception. Now, if the yields above quoted 

 without a single failure can be obtained on a precipitation of twelve 

 inches in an unprecedentedly hot season by means of scientific soil 

 culture, then I feel sure that we can say that an insurance has been 

 found at last against failure; and I reiterate what I have said many 

 times before, that he who follows Mr. Campbell's methods as closely 



Campbell System. 



as the local conditions will allow him, will never have a crop failure. 

 While it is true that some years, such as the past, the yield may be cut 

 down, yet where proper precautions are taken in due time his methods 

 will insure a profitable yield in sections where the rainfall does not 

 fall less than nine or ten inches. 



