THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



163 



"At the end of the season of 1908, the moisture conservation plots 

 in the com series showed at all of the stations excepts Hays a marked 

 increase in moisture as compared with the cropped plots. 



"The results for the season of 1909 on the corn series will be of 

 special interest, particularly if we have a dry spring, in view of the 

 marked difference in the moisture content in the summer fallow and 

 cropped plots at the present time. 



Committee Change. 



SECRETARY BURNS: "I wish to announce that C. W. Richards, of 

 Utah, has been substituted for Dr. John A. Widtsoe on the Resolution 

 Committee." 



Norris Accepts. 



The Secretary then read the following telegram, which evoked 

 prompt applause: 



Helena, Montana, February 24, 1909. 

 "J. A. McKinley, Care of Dry Farming Congress, Cheyenne. 



"Express to Congress my hearty appreciation of distinguished honor 

 conferred. My best efforts will be given to discharge of duty. 



"EDWIN L. NORRIS." 



ADOPTION OF DRY LAND GRAIN TO LOCAL CONDITIONS 



Professor W. M. Jardine, in charge of Dry Land Grains, Department 

 of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, addressed the Congress as follows: 



"I am sure we are all fortunate during these sessions in having the 

 privilege of listening to so many able discussions touching upon the var- 

 ious phases of dry land agriculture. Most of the papers, however, pre' 

 sented thus far, have treated almost entirely of crop rotation, conserving: 

 of moisture, the relation of live-stock to dry farming and various other 

 practices that undoubtedly must be considered, if we are to have a per- 

 manent agriculture in the dry lands. There are other phases, however, 

 of dry land agriculture that need our consideration. The crop, for in- 

 stance, is the thing in which we are all vitally concerned. There is a 

 large variety of crops that will likely succeed fairly well on the dry 

 land, but we are confronted with a problem at present, and that i's the 

 continuations croppings to wheat, or I mean the system of wheat grow- 

 ing, either continuously, or in the summer fallow method. 



"Dry land agriculture is at present in what might be termed a trans- 

 itional stage. It is rapidly emerging from the pioneer stage, where the 

 main object was to supply an immediate need in local consumption and 

 at the same time secure a permanent foothold upon the land. It is ar- 

 riving at a point where the amount of produce exceeds local consump- 

 tion and must find a market rn competition with the products of older 

 agricultural regions. 



"The pioneer in any branch of agriculture is shut out from the mod- 

 ern conveniences of older sections, and is confronted with conditions 



