THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



329 



bacteria through the combination of air and water in the soil, under a 

 certain physioal condition. If we have too much air and too little water, 

 we will not get the development, and if we have too much water and too 

 little air, the same thing is true. 



Conserving Moisture. 



If we can secure just the proper quantity of air and water in the soil, 

 keep the water in the soil, and keep the surface loose to admit of the 

 heat, there will be development of plant elements equivalent to two or 

 three crops — ^it oa,nnot all be utilized in one. 



Average Results. 



Now here is the point. By getting that proper physical condition 

 of the soil, nature does its work as it is intended, and develops that plant 

 element of fertility to the degree that we are enabled to grow a 60- 

 bushel crop of barley like the crop Prof. Burnett has just stated to us was 

 grown on the North Platte Station farm, while there are other fields on 

 which, with good tillage — the best they could give it — at North Platte, 

 went from nothing to 24 bushels to the acre. At Hill City, upon the 



Summer Fallow. 



ground, as I told you, that was summer tilled the second time, the fer- 

 tility wias developed to that degree, it grew the crops previously named. 

 We keep this degree of fertility by keeping the ground wet all the time, 



Soil Treatment. 



and not allowing it to dry out. Here is a vital point: when your crop is 

 harvested, you are not through. You begin immediately to make pre- 

 parations for the next crop, by following the harvester with the disk, to 

 prevent evaporation and what moisture yom may have stored in below, 

 will come up, the soil will be filled with all the moisture it can carry, and 

 that is the ideal condition for handling it. 



I do not think there is any question about the assertion we make 

 that we have found the way, the how, the time, the manner of cultiva- 

 ting the soil by which we are sure to get good results. I do not want you 

 to take this assertion as a point for enthusiasm to push forward. I say 

 it can be done, if you would learn how, but you have got to learn it. If 

 you half do it, you are liable to fall down. I see that Prof. Hicks, like 

 many of our weather prophets, is pointing to a dry summer. I tremibie 

 for the result, for there are so many who do not understand this method 

 of farming. Points have been brought up diviating — one man will say, 

 "Why, if you plow early in the fall you don't need the sub-surface packer," 

 and another suggests another thing. Gentlemen, look out. Suppose you 

 plow early in the fall and you get another 1903, what will be the result? 

 The same as in 1904, — no crop. That ground must be thoroughly pul- 

 verized and it must be just as firm as you can make it with the machine. 

 Yooi need not be afraid of getting it too solid. 



