THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



271 



Causes of Failure. 



"Many and many new settlers came into our West from April 

 1,,1907, to April 1, 1908. Perhaps not twenty per cent, of these settlers 

 were familiar with the conditions of soil or climate, — centainly many 

 of them undertook to farm as they did back east where over thirty 

 inches of rainfall is normal; and less than the normal amount came 

 in this new country the first year of their immigration, and the nor- 

 mal in that section is from fourteen to seventeen inches per annum. A 

 certain per cent, of these new settlers had never farmed before, and 

 used unsafe methods to grow a crop. Our crop last year was a most trying 

 one on account of an exceptionally dry winter, followed by a late, cool 

 and dry spring, getting very little moisture before May first. 



Small Percentage of Failures. 



"In spite of the untoward season of 1908 I find that with the dis- 

 advantages of lack of experience, an unfavorable season and limited, 

 or no capital to start with, less than ten per cent, of these new settlers 

 under the most trying conditions failed to grow some kind of a crop. 



"While I do not deny that some of these settlers may have to be 

 helped to obtain seed for the new year, — a scattering, one here and 

 there, may have 'gone back to his wife's people' — from whom let us 

 trust he will not again stray, — but all with whom I can gain any cor- 

 respondence whatever, who followed the fundamental principles of 

 thorough tillage, as it has been so well presented at this, and pre- 

 ceding Congresses, grew feed and seed in not only this state but 

 throughout our semi-arid West this past season. 



Ninety Percent Successful. 



"Your statistician has corresponded with farmers on the non-irri- 

 gated lands in every state, from North Dakota to California, from 

 Washington to Texas. ' where farming is being practiced with a pre- 

 cipitation of less than twenty inches of .rainfall, and the final conclu- 

 sion is that over ninety per cent have made good in 1908 and previous 

 years. 



Causes of Failure. 



"Of the remaining ten per cent., five per cent, had only settled 

 that season and the other five per cent, will fail at farming as well as 

 any other calling. Too many think just anybody can farm. Farming 

 in the West calls for the highest class of intelligence and we need io 

 discourage the settlers who do not and cannot mix brains with thr- 

 soil. 



"The fundamentals that the farmers who have 'made good' hav-' 

 used, I give in a synoptic form and the soundness of their logic tauglvf 

 to them by twenty-five to forty years of experience I leave to yom 

 better judgment. 



