THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



197 



that physical condition. I know that over the other side of the moun- 

 tain they have soil quite different from ours, whether it is true where 

 the gentleman has reference to, I don't know, but the soil over there, a 

 large volume of it, dissolves readily with water, very much more so than 

 our class of soil on this side of the mountains. It is true, and I have not 

 attempted — although I may have been so understood — to give you to un- 

 derstand that there were certain mechanical rules which applied every- 

 where. No, sir. I endeavored to make that statement on the start. That 

 is, get your efforts to one point, get the fine ideal condition in which the 

 proper quantities of air and water are mixed. I may not be correct in 

 stating this. 



Conservation of Moisture. 



"You get the soil in a fine ideal condition where it carries just the 

 proper quantity of water and the root system is perfect and it will let 

 the roots run out and gather in the plant food and moisture. In that 

 ideal condition you carry the greatest amount of water possible. The 

 greatest trouble with us on this side of the mountain is to carry us 

 through the long dry spells and we must do everything we can to make 

 it possible to feed the plant all the time. All it needs is this fine soil 

 which carries the largest per cent of water and the water is increased 

 by crowding the parts together. You take soil that is somewhat loose 

 and put the seed in and it will come up and perhaps send out one, two 

 or three shoots, while if seed is put in soil which is fine and firm it will 

 send out a dozen or twenty; in fact, I have seen as high as 102 stalks 

 from one kearnel of wheat, all bearing good seed. Gentlemen, I don't 

 come here for any quarrel with anybody. I came here with an honest 

 purpose. I have done all my work with honest intentions. When I started 

 in in Dakota, I had no idea I would ever stand before an audience to tell 

 them what I had accomplished and what I had discovered. I have been 

 using a combination of conditions, but I went on and on in the work until 

 I became enthusiastic. In 1894 I think it was the worst year we ever 

 had and I produced very remarkable results in potatoes and a small precs 

 of wheat, and it was so remarkable that it attracted the attention of the 

 railroads and I was invited by the Northern Pacific to go and put some 

 experiments on their farms. At first I said 'no,' but finally consented. 

 Then I was asked to go over their line and make addresses. I said 'no, I 

 can't do that; I never talked to an audience in my life; but I have gone 

 on by degrees watching each step and watching the bulletins which came 

 out from the colleges and departments at Washington. I have gone from 

 the gulf to Alberta and I have been all over the Pacific Coast and I want 

 to say to you that two weeks spent in the State of Washington instruc- 

 ted me along this line as much as any two weeks I ever had; yes, two 

 months. You find a difference in the physical conditions. It shows a 

 natural physical condition that may be assumed by any ordinary tillage 

 and the results of a little rainfall, a condition you cannot get in this 

 country." 



