THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



301 



oats, 15 to 70 bushels; corn, seven to 50 bushels; potatoes, 25 to 300 

 bushels. 



Fruit. 



He says he believes the past methods of crop growing are being 

 greatly improved. He has watched two certain orchards for many years, 

 that are being tilled under dry farming methods with splendid results. 



Fruit. 



•H. J. McCain, of same region, says that within six miles of Rapid 

 City is the second largest orchard in the State, covering 100 acres. This 

 orchard produced 1,000 barrels of apples in 1908. Chris. Thompson is the 

 owner. 



Alfalfa and Fodder. 



He states that alfalfa has been grown in that locality for 10 years, 

 while brome and native wheat grasses are also successfully grown for 

 pasture and meadow purposes. He considers flax, cane and broom corn, 

 good and successful crops grown in addition to those named by Mr. Hall. 



Better Methods. 



He is intensely interested in the subject of improved scientific 

 methods of dry farming and feels that the future success of the semi- 

 arid districts of the West and Northwest depend upon their adoption, 

 especially where it is impossible to irrigate. Anything or any method 

 which tends to conserve the moisture in the ground, he thinks, should 

 be encouraged and adopted. 



Precipitation. 



Chas. A. Jensen, of the Bellefourche U. S. Station demonstration 

 farm, states that the records, kept for ten years, show an annual rain- 

 fall for that section of 18 inches — major portion falling from April 

 to June. He reports some farming in that region for 20 years, but sug- 

 gests that better methods must be practiced for best results. 



Soil Treatment. 



He advises farmers to fall plow, as deep as possible, seeding win- 

 ter gTain more generally; to practice early spring seeding;* harrow after 

 rains; have a crop rotation for the farm, conserve and add more or- 

 ganic matter to the heavy clay soils in that locality. The demonstration 

 farm, for crop year 1908, gave the following general acreage results: 



Winter wheat, 10 to 30 bushels; durum wheat, 10 to 30 bushels; 

 oats, 20 to 50 bushels; barley, 48 bushels; corn, 5 to 10 bushels; western 

 wheat grass, one-half to two tons. 



(k) TEXAS. 



Homesteader's Experience. 



F. S. Fletcher, of Amistad, relates his experience as a new settler 

 in that region of semi-arid Texas: "I landed with my emigrant outfit 



