THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



221 



the agricultural institutions, the scientific experiments now being con- 

 ducted by men of national reputation, will mean the reclamation of 

 much land and the making of prosperous homes for the coming generation. 



Work of the Congress. 



"By keeping up a steady campaign of education and experiments, 

 the showing in the next ten years will mean a great deal to the semi- 

 arid sections of the West. The practical object lessons will stimulate 

 still greater activity and as a gentleman from Mountainair, N. M., wrote 

 me recently, 'Every man in this vicinity who has applied himself has 



Acreage Yields. 



made good this past year, even on first sod, while many farmers on sec- 

 ond year ground have bumper crops, 200 bushels of Irish potatoes, 50 

 bushels of corn, wheat averaging about 15 bushels to the acre, and five 

 crops of vegetables, pumpkins, melons, oats, etc., those who failed hav- 

 ing themselves to blame. 



Precipitation. 



"The average rainfall was about seventeen inches. 

 Money is Necessary. 



"While application and practical brains are a good asset in the de- 

 velopment of any new country, it is equally essential that a man be 

 reasonably well equipped with cash, for no matter how good his inten- 

 tions, he will have a hard problem to face unless he has some available 

 capital to get through the first year." 



WHAT DRY FARMING HAS DONE FOR IDAHO. 



(By George A. Day, State Land Commiss'ioner of Idaho.) 



"Tho dry farming industry of Idaho is a new one but such a re- 

 markable success has been made that I doubt if there is a state in the 

 Union that has made such rapid strides and received better profits. 



Dry Land Acreage. 



"Five years ago the State Land Board, realizing the future value 

 of these high lands — then considered practically worthless — made choice 

 selections in different sections of the southeaisteirn part of the state of 

 over two hundred thouands acres. Its faith in these lands has not been 

 shaken for we are still making large seleclions. These lands a the pres- 

 ent time are in great demand and if the state was not limited o acreage 

 in the disposal of her landwe could sell them now from $10 to $25 per 

 acre. 



Land Values. 



"The state this spring offered for sale in St, Anthony, Fremont coun- 

 ty, about 4,000 acres, every acre was sold and averaged a little better 

 than $17. 



