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THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



Clay Sub-Soil. 



• "First: A soil adapted to farming with a clay sub-soil. Shun a 

 sandy sub-sotil, since it tends to leak moisture and makes it difficult. to 

 maintain a soil reservoir, where by capillary action, moisture reaches 

 the plant as it has need. A sandy surface soil needs different treat- 

 ment than a clayey or clay loam, surface soil. Hence, do not treat all 

 soils alike. 



Soil Fertilization. 



"Second: Have one cash money crop and make the major cropping 

 of the farm, feed crops which give back at least seventy-five per cent, 

 soil value of the crop fed to keep up fertility of the farm and main- 

 tain humus. 



Live Stock 



"Third: Keep live stock on the farm, the kind of live stock to be 

 determined by the farm environment, market conditions and farm 

 capital the owner can invest. 



Deep Plowing. 



"Fourth: Adoption of moisture conserving methods of tillage is 

 \ital and all important. Deep plowing in the average soil is the first 

 great requisite. 



. Seed Adaptation. 



"Fifth: Use acclimated and the most drouth resistant types of 

 seed which can be made to fit into a purposeful, logical rotation for the 

 farm. At least one lagume should be grown in all rotations chosen, I 

 am too much of an enthusiast to here more than mention this subject, 

 for time does not permit me to go into this subject as 1 want to. 



Capital Necessary. 



"Sixth: Some capital is absolutely essential for all settlers on 

 western lands. In every instance of failure that I have been able to 

 trace in the past four years, I find a dearth of capital to start with. 

 We must frankly, fairly, candidly state that some capital here, as else- 

 where, is required to build a home. I would hesitate to urge a man to 

 bring his family to open up a homestead who did not have enough to 

 stake him for at least twenty-four months. Instances are on record 

 where men have worked for others and made good with little or no 

 capital, but it is running too great a risk to encourage any man to 

 trust to luck to pull his family through. Some capital then, we assert, 

 is necessary to found a home. 



Business IVIethods. 



"Seventh: Back of soil, climate, seed, system and capital must be 

 a resourceful, determined, intelligent farmer, — one who is willing to 

 learn from his neighbors and adapt himself and his methods to his 

 environment. Such a man is the one who seeks a well or utilizes flood 



