THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



107 



utilized in plant activities and by the succeeding crops. Allowing weeds 

 to grow or permitting the surface soil to become compact by rains, makes 

 conditions for the rapid loss of moisture and small yields. Since the soil 

 produces no returns while being summer fallowed, it is important that 

 we get the full benefit in the succeeding crops. The term 'summer tilled 

 land' might be more proper than 'summer fallowed land.' 



Crop Rotation. 



"Because of the crop losses and the apparent oxidation of the humus 

 content under a system of summer fallowing and cropping, it is im- 

 portant that other promising crop arrangements ought to be tested to 

 fiee if a more profitable system cannot be introduced. In working toward 

 this end we must remember that crops which are economical in their use 

 of moisture will have to be included at frequent intervals if regular pro 

 duction is to go on each year. The crop rotation tests being carried on 

 in various sections of the great plains by the office of dry land agri- 

 culture of the United States Department of Agriculture, have been most 

 carefully and comprehensively arranged and will do much toward solving 

 the questions connected with dry farm crop rotation. 



Corn. 



"Moisture tests made on land producing a crop of corn properly 

 cultivated throughout the season showed an average of 13.5 per cent, 

 for the season as against 16.84 for a properly tilled fallow. While this 

 is slightly over three per cent, less in the case of the inter-tilled crop, 

 yet it indicates the possibility of producing a crop and still retaining 

 enough moisture in the soil to encourage plant food activities. 



Soil Treatment. 



"To conclude, the dry farmer must so manage his soil that it is 

 not wholly dried out during the summer, in order that the plant foods 

 may become available and also that he may fortify himself against an 

 unexpected dry spell the following season. 



Crop Rotation. 



"Much experimentation will be necessary in the different localities 

 before the best crop rotations may be adopted. If, as a result of investi- 

 gations, crop plans may be introduced that will eliminate the summer 

 fallow and permit of crop returns every year, it will be of great value 

 to the dry farmers of this great West." 



NEBRASKA. 



Prof. W. P. Snyder, Superintendent of the Sub-Station Experiment 

 Station, North Platte, spoke for Nebraska as follows: 



"I shall not attempt to discuss conditions which exist throughout 

 the entire semi-arid area, but shall confine my remarks to the country 

 adjacent to North Platte, Nebraska, or to localities having similar 

 conditions. 



