142 



THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



early cultivation cf the crop may bring disastrous results later in the 

 season. 



Causes of Failure. 



"For instance, over-stimulation of plants during the early stages 

 of their growth may induce such a luxuriant vegetative growth accom- 

 panied by a superficial root development that they w^ill become much less 

 able to contend w'th drouthy conditions than are plants which have had 

 less favorable soil conditions during the early growing stages, should 

 such drouthy condtions occur about the time the grain is filling. The 

 same is true as regards resistance to cold and to disease. May and June 

 frosts usually injure good fields of grain more than they do poorer fields, 

 and it is not an uncommon experience to see those portions of a field of 

 wheat or oats, having the m.ost luxuriant growth, almost completely des 

 troyed by rust while the poorer parts of the field escape. Hot winds 

 sometimes injure rank growing vegetafon to a greater extent than they 

 do where it is less luxuriant. Hail will destroy a good crop as effect- 

 ually as it will a poor one. What is generally considered 'poor farming' 

 sometimes yields more profits — or less loss, as the case may be — than 

 so-called 'good farming.' These are facts familiar to everybody who has 

 had experience in farming in the semi-arid regions. 



' Shall we then cease to strive to improve our agricultural methods 

 s mply because we know we will sometimes fall? By no means! We 

 know that there are very few rules of any kind that do not have their 

 exceptions. The more general the rule the more exceptions there are 

 likely to be when an effort is made to apply it to particular cases. This 

 is especially true when we attempt to generalize concerning methods of 

 dry farming where there are so many unknown factors and so many un- 

 forseen combinations both known and unknown, modifiable and unmodi- 

 fiable, factors. 



"Let us then keep on experimenting and observing with open minds, 

 exchanging ideas and experiences, frankly admitting our failures, and 

 not boasting over much of our successes, but carefully analyzing both 

 our failures and successes, in order that we may if possible, get at the 

 underlying principles that govern both. And above all, let us strive to 

 keep out their prescriptions warranted to cure any and all ailments at 

 so much per. 



Study Local Condkions. 



"This seems to be a very attractive and profitable field for some, 

 but it is likely, if the first dose does not sfcken the farmers, to develop 

 a 'peruna appetite' among them instead of curing their ailments. If 

 we are to benefit the farmers, it must be by stimulating in them a ten- 

 dency to investigate and to reason for themselves, rather than to de- 

 pend upon following any set of ironclad rules laid down for them. 



"The foregoing statements and conclusions are based upon data 

 E-ecured at six of the stations in the Great Plains Area. 



