THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



265 



found in many parts of Stanle3^ county, show that in ages past either 

 an extension of the Gulf of Mexico extended north and covered our 

 section of South Dakota, or a great inland lake existed there. The de- 

 posits left from the water that must have stood over that territory for 

 ages has made an exceedingly rich soil. The western line of the glacial 

 drift, except in a few places, does not show west of the Missouri river, 

 hence the soils in our county are entirely different from those on the 

 upland prairies east of the Missouri river. We have a soil that is ad- 

 hesive and sticky in its properties and very difficult to cultivate and 

 farm when wet. In the northern part of Stanley county we have thou- 

 sands of acres of table lands lying back from the Cheyenne river for 

 several miles that is often spoken of as the Woming or Laramie drift. 

 Those table lands are composed of a rich gravel loam, very pro- 

 ductive, — on entirely different soil from the gumibo soil covering the 

 other parts of our county. The rest of the county is of a rolling nature, 

 quite rough in sections, in others only slightly rolling, and very satis- 

 factory for cultivation, the altitude being 1,457 feet on the Missouri 

 river to 1,-500 feet on the divides between the White and Cheyenne 

 rivers. 



Campbell System. 



"Thus far we have been carrying out the principles of scientific soil 

 culture as recommended and set forth in various publications by H. 

 W. Campbell, of Lincoln, Nebraska, It has been demonstrated beyond 

 a doubt that this system of farming is a great success in our country — 

 that fall plowing and fall crops produce better results than spring 

 crops. However, we are getting very good returns from spring crops. 



Deep Plowing. 



"Deep plowing is necessary, seven to nine inches being the rule, 

 with thorough cultivation after every rain. The fourteen inch disc 

 has been the one most effective tool in fitting the ground before 

 seeding. 



Sub-Soil Packer. 



"At this time we have not sufficiently tested the use of the ma- 

 chine known as a 'sub-soil packer' to know its value. I have such a 

 machine that I used last fall on all plowing and shall use on spring 

 plowing in order to be able to judge the value and importance of its 

 use — connection with dry farming. 



Gumbo Soil. 



"In our section the clay soil is commonly spoken of as 'gumbo.' 

 A close examination of this soil shows the particles to be very small 

 and very many of them of cubical form. It will absorb a large amount 

 of water because of these very fine particles, fill a can or jar and see. 

 After the virgin prairie is once broken up and thoroughly cultivated 

 it becomes loose, is very easily worked if taken at just the right stage 



