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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1909)
( THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEK: DKCKIIBER 5, tW.l. Christmas Fair of the Churches In the Court of the Bee Building Continues This Week h ; v , FARMING FOR REAL FARMERS Some Suggestions from a Practical Man on Practical Points. CORRECT TREATMENT OF SOIL 'VVhat Is Needed to Secure the Beat Ilrsnlt I udcr Ufven Clliuatlo Cuudltlona and. Com posi tion of the Ground, While I liavo In tho past protested gainst the name, which the dry farming ccngri-Hs bears and while wo still think It wrong because it la Indefinite. ' yet It Is a good deal like the case of the boy und Lis nickname. John It was In fact, but they called hint Jack. When everybody knew that Jack was John It .was just a well to call him Jack. In taot il did not make so much difference whether Jonn was Juck or Jack was John, as It did what hi) stood for, whether hla principles were right and his Influence good, and whether he really accomplished any good for himself or for those with whom he was associated, 80 with thla dry farming congri'KS. What we are really interested In Is what the organization stands for and the good It can do. Its history commences hack only a few years ago when a few thinking men begin .to realize th.it there was Aomethlng worth' while In soil culture, that the farmer did not hnv to bo content with what provitV -nee was willing to give from the soli ear by year, but lhat It was possible to comptt mother earth ' to ylve forth 2, or 4 blades, where one grew before. It Is to thlH end our efforts should be faithfully und persistently directed. I.a)lr the Kouutia t ion. My thoughts were first directed to tillage and the growing crop Rome twenty-six years ago. At first we Ji.mjx'd at con clusions as to the kind and time of tillage only to find that results were uncertain. Progress was slow because we did not and could not grasp the fundamental principles of scientific soil culture. Practically nothing was known of this among the farmers generally and not a line could be found In the teachings of the books and papers. The foundation had to be laid In the bitter school of experience and dis appointment. Not until 18M did we gain confidence and become enthusiastic, and by the close of 18i4 we had Just begun to realise the great future of the west under scientific soil culture. L'p to 1KSH our main efforts had been to overcome the evils of the drouth; ; but from that time on the work broadened 1 1.11III we came to know that tillage of the j right kind, at the right time, mean more The King, of Diaries ' LAIRD . uTa DUry and Time-Saver 1910 Y ) Pimn la tfe WirM lt trl- ly -t--,u. A Uii rau-i lr L yM. ivtr, M-fhaaf, Fau , Timi ft, x haute, Ti ? Hr and CktriyviM. Ih fc-uu PraMdeaui VOtk Century ittn.l fe,-sBii Atril4l igti r-r ; tfr t - yran ft MM -kd IK feibi) ftt i r i W j Bbawp .n4 Ttekvl Hwer( hvuigiiiua f Ctttat f U I er i.yK, tad tJt CitiMr ,0X, .J i eVras.DJ.1 t-CV SAVE TIME, MONEY tnl WORRY 1 4 Colored Mad -f lotted Ktu llM-at- Mtd. fRMiua Caul, Kiti Yatoo f "In. Iu$ai . prnt4 IR Mrh tkiat, m H..r-ro I t bar -! r rdt. ydl frjC LAIRD & LLkP.Siliherj .ll CHICAGO i December 6th and 7th First Methodist Church Clifton Hill Presbyterian December 9th First Christian Church Here are Embroidered Goods Towels, rag rugs, dish towels, doilies, hand hemmed kitchen aprons, handker chiefs, cotton hags. Traveling Conveniences Fancy silk hags, collar bags and boxes, comforters, Hand made raffia and rattan baskets, very unique. Fancy aprons, stocks and collars. ' to the development and prosperity of the great west and Its railroads than any other one thing. It will not be disputed today by anyone who knows, that by and through scientific soil culture more la being accomplished for the betterment of all crops and the Increased prosperity of the grwat west In all seasons and Under almost alt conditions than In any other way. O, that you could all see these things as I see them. Were It so lesa effort would be put forth to spread the hews that It can be done and for more to the practical dissemination of Information as to-how It Is done. To simply know a trying that will bring results can be done and to know how to do It. are two quite different conditions In shaping the destiny of the new farm home. CJeaeral Prlnrlples Involved. To understand thia we must discuss briefly a few of the general principles In volved. The one essential to crops la cor rect treatment of the soil. The soil Is the farmer's workshop and laboratory, an what happens In this laboratory depends upon the kind, time and manner of till age. The farmer cannot control the rain or sunshine nor fix the temperature, but within certain limits he can maintain that certain physical condition of the soil that shall control therein both air and water, and we shall endeavor to show a little la ter on that herein Ilea the hidden aecret of successful farming. The one thing to be sought In scientific soil culture Is such a condition of the soil aa will secure In available form the great est amount of fertility. But what Is fer- i tlllty? Is it something that la within the grain, of the soil In fixed quantity only to be reduced aa each crop Is taken from the field. We very much doubt It. We have seen abundance of evidence In our work the last ten years to fully convince us that In the main It is something that Is developed each year In quantity Just In proportion to the physical condition of the soil, that condition which permits tho Boll to carry Just the proper proportions f air and water s that sunshine and warmth will promote the necessary chemical ac tion.. Soli Is fertile where the chemical changes and processes arc active, and this la made possible by bringing together the elements of air and water In right pro portion and subjecting them to the action of light and beat and., perhaps, of eleo trlclty. This can be brought aboul very largely by mechanical processes. ' Lnjr Dons Fixed Rales. ut you cannot lay down a fixed rule for this mechanical work. Any such fixed rule would break down whenever there was a radical change In condltlone, auch aa ex. cesslve heat, a prolonged dry period, high winds, light showers or heavy downpours. We can outline certain general mechanical ork that will succeed If the farmer under- .anos just what the finished work must be Thereore, the only thing to do U to help the farmer educate himself In the true principles of soil fertility, so that ha will understand just what he Is -i,i- . cultivation and In .11 f)rid work. He must know why things ur. done. He must ever be alert to these things, know in what way they may b favorable or detrimental, and what he should do and when to derive the greatest benefit from his labor. He should always look to securing and maintaining that certain Ideal physical condition of the soli that is most favorable to promoting the chemical changes which develop fer tility. For. let me repeat, the great secret of such suecefcful crop growing as shall result In doubling the average yield of all crops in all sections of the country In good years and of producing good crops In drouthy years. Ilea In the farmer's knowl edge of how to properly combine the ele ments of air and water In the soil. Water Moveasent In Roll. Let me Illustrate by refeinng to su.n phases of the pioceiu that have receive. I some of the too utile attention. In a retrion where the rainfall Is more than ample, the farmer finds that he gets best crops when the rain comes . In frequent gentle showers. Why? Because nature does the work of regulating the quantity of air and water, which, under other conditions, such as pro longed drouth or excessive downpour, the farmer would have to do the work to over come the detrimental effect of nature's own hand. To Illustrate: If after a heavy, beating rain the field Is left untouched the surface dries off and the water soon comes back up by capillary movement, carrying to the surface of the then firm soil the soluble minerals from below, and they are left there as a deposit of dry matter, Just as the salt Is left In a glass from a aalt solution when the glass Is placed where the water will evaporate. Thus a dense crust is formed which shuts Out the air from the roots, thereby checking chemical action, and the plants soon cease to grow. If the Immediate surface has been stirred, and a prolonged dry period follows, the crust will form from below the loosened layer, with an effect Just as bad. To thus permit the growth of the plant to be checked means a decrease In yield of grain, and the extent of this decrease depends upon the period In the planus growth. I feel free to say that there Is no one subject about which farmers know so lit Me as this one of the movement of water in the soli, and the formation of a crust and why It Is so Injurious to the crops, and it Is one of the most important. Barb Region Has Its Problems. It la evident any attempt to lay down a rule as to how to till the soil without due regard to these somewhat new and It was late in mild October, and the long autumnal rain Had left the summer harvest fields all creen with gruss again; The first sharp frost had fallen, leaving all the woodlands gay With the hues of summer's rainbow or the meadow flowers of May. Through a thin, dry mist that morning the . . fun. ro" b,rod, ar' " At first a rayless disk of fire, he brightened as ho sped: Yet, even his noontide glory fell chastened and aifbdued On the corn fields and the orchards, and, softly pictured wood. And all the quiet afternoon, slow sloping to the night. He wove with golden shuttle the haxe with yellow light; blanttng through the painted beeches, he glortfled the hill; And, beneath It, pond and meadow lav brighter, greener still. . . , And shouting boys In woodland haunts caught glimpses of that iky. Flicked, by the many tinted leaves, and laughed, they knew not why; a 11 a scnouigius gay witn aaier nowers. ue- slde the meadow brooks, Mingled the glow of autumn with the sun- Mhlne of sweet looks. ...... From Bpire and barn looked westerly the patient weathercocks; But even the birches on the hill Hood mo- tlunlexs aa rocks. No sound was In the woodlands, save the squirrel's dropping shell. And the yellew leavns among the boughs. low rustling aa they fell. The summer trains ie liai vested; the stubble fue lay dry. Where June winds rolled. In light and shade, tha pale green waves of rye; But still, on gentle hill slopes, in alWya fringed with wood. I'ngathered, bleaching in the sun, the heavy corn crop atood. Bent low. by autumn s wind and rain. through husks lhat, dry and sere. Vnfolded from Ihelr ilpened charge, shone out the yellow .ur; e The Huskers articles to he offered at Luncheon 11:30 to 2 p. m. every day Sandwiches Doughnuts and Coffee, 20c very vital questions would often result In total failure. Each region will have Its own problems, each one different.' Kvery season will, compel revision of the rules of mechanical work. Complete as we hav.e made this seem, yet the farmers can by study und observation so completely con trol these element of fertility as to bring favorable results where total failure had been recorded In the past. Now as to the mechanical processes bo be used In bringing about the desired con ditions In the soil, I have no quarrel with anyonn who may differ with me or refuse to go at far as I do. Use any method, do the work In any way, make use of any tool or implement or device or Invention. All I shall insist on is that the Tarmer know what soli condition is necessary to , bring about the results he desires and that he shall go by the most direct route to obtain those conditions. Let me assure you thut no matter what your mechanical work muy be, the crop growth and grain yield will be Just In proportion to your ability to obtain the Ideal, fine, firm, moist soil condition for nature to da its work. Thin That la Essential. It Is tho physical condition of tho soil at Hreding time and maintained In the growing period that Is essential rather Uiarl Qny Particular system followed In getting It. Timeliness In plowing and cul tivation U mora than depth of furrow. Watchfulness to avoid ruinous conditions Is better than an argument on plowing. I feel that I render no greater servloe than to Impress upon you the fact that the one great and essential factor In de velopment of the agricultural resources Beneath, the turnip lay concealed, In many a verdant fold, And glistened In the slanting light the pumpkin's sphere of gold. There wrought the busy harvesters, and many a creaking wain Bore slowly to the long ba-n floor Its load of honk n.1 ffraln- Till broad and red. as when he rose, the un aank down at last. And like a merry guest'a farewell, the day in brightness pavaed. And lot as through the western pines, on meadow, stream and pond, Flamed tho red radiance of a sky, set all afire beyond, Slowly o'er the eastern sea bluffs a mlld'T siry shone. And the sunset and the moonrlse were niln- gi ntl) on,. 1 ' As thus Into the quiet night the twilight lapsed away, And deeper In the brightening moon the tranquil shadows lay; Krom many a brown old farmhouxe and hamlet without name. Their milking and their home tasks dona, ulB merry huskers came. Swung o'er the heaped-up lull vent, from pitchforks In the mow, Shone dimly down the lanterns on the pleasant scene below ; The growing pile of huks behind the golden ears befort. And laughing eves and buv hun.l. .n.i brown cheeks glimmering e'er. Half hidden In a quiet nook, serene of look and heart. Talking their old tlmea over, the old men "i apart: While up and ion the unliusked pile or nestling in its shade. At hlde-and-saek. with taush and slvout the happy children played. J v t'rged by the good host's daughter, a maiden young and fair. IJftlnr to light her sweet blue eyea and pride of soft brown hair. The master of ths village school, sleek of hair and smooth of tongue. To the quaint tune of tome old rtlm a busking ballad sung. J. a. Whlttier. Home Books Baby Supplies of the BPmr-arld belt Is that of more In telligent, hence more scientific, tlllu'ge of the soil. All else Is Incidental or leading up to this vital truth. Wo have here to day theso reports of large crops, better yields, more profit, greater prosperity, be cause men who study behind the plow havo come to know the Inestimable value of scientific soil culture In making and malnlalnlng fertility of the soil. I say to you that In the near future larger yields of grain will be obtained In the great plains region f the west than has ever been known; not by accident, but by knowledge along right lines. Official Commendation. I regard It exceedingly unfortunate that encouragement from official sources should be given those who are crying down and belittling the work you and I and all of us have been doing In recent years In rela tion to dry land tillage. In a Washington dli patch last month the head of the Do- partment of Agriculture is represented as voicing this sentiment: "The Campbell system of dry land farming he pronounces wrong and hurtful." He Is quoted as condemning cropping every other year because he says this means burning out of the vegetable matter. I Bay such suggestions coming from Wash ington are unfortunate, because it is evi dent that Mr. Wilson knows nothing of tl at which he condemns. The plan of crop, ping every other year, which he holds to be A fixed part of our work, Is not an esrentlal of the system and Is resorted to only Incidentally as known conditions de- mend It. Evidently, too. he draws his conclusions regarding the burning out of the vegetable matter from experiments with the old familiar summer fallow, which Is as different from the true summer tillage that we advise as night from day. Field for Investigation. And again Secretary Wilson speaks of his plan of changing the character of the aoil and improving conditions in the dry regions by turning under drouth resisting plants, perhaps Imported from Russia. He refers etpeciully to the sweet clover and the Kus slan thistle as useful In this scheme. I do not know, and I do not want to dispute him as to the utility of these familiar plants. But I am willing to leave the field of Investigation of the usefulness of the thistle and sweet clover and similar plant from Blherla and the far north to the De partment of Agriculture. I do Insist, however, that It Is wrong and hurtful, and wholly Inexcusable, for the authority to be given at Washington for sensational attacks upon the work that we of the west are doing. Better that aid and encouragement be given us In our work of development of scientific soli culture by and through which we lis ve already accom plished so much that Is of permanent value. Never In the h story of all our woik has pur desk been eu flooded wuu reports of success and expressions of gratitude from all over the country as during the last ninety days. Which shall we be guided by the theory of the one great man at Washington, or farts from hun dreds nf practical rr.tn tilling the soil right out here In our great wtt? Nell failure lor All Lands. It behooves us to go on In our own way, making atudy of the problems fit soli cul ture as applied first to the dry lands, then also aa to Irrigation land.i, and then to the humid regions. Methods we must adopt, for results In the area of limited rainfall will alwas be found immenly profitable, also where there Is abundant water. Scientific soil culture la never In any sense dry farming. It Is farming with Just enough water. We have made some progress In a quar ter of a century, much of It since this congress was organised, which lias aided In the publicity the movement so greatly needed. I can ae there has been a won derful advarce mad, fcrson lu the east Made Canned Fruits Jellies, Jams, Marmalade, Cakes, Home "Made Bread, Mincemeat, Home Made Canny. the fair: Cook Book, recipes tried by the ladies of Omaha. Book of Candy Recipes, Label Books, ' Hand Recipe and Address Books. Children's dresses and skirts, lingerie. Flowers, dressed dolls, Japanese articles. ern states find It hard to believe the things which have become commonplace with us. To many the change wrought has seemed almost a miracle. ' I believe I have had exceptional oppor tunity to witness the change taking place, with an enormous correspondence and then my travels have been Into Mexico and Canada and all between. Within a week I have seen In Texas, In a region of de ficient rainfall this seas(on, results brought about by scientific tillage that would have been regarded as Impossible a few year ago. Letters from Alberta tell of splendid results there from soil culture science. I have kept-In constant communication with sixty-eight farmers located In fourteen different states, with ten more In Alberta and two In Saskatchewan, all working alon j lines we have suggested, and contesting for $2,000 In cash prises offered for the bent yields of wheat, oata, corn and cot ton. They all began work early last spring. From many of these we have hud very cnthuHlastic reports regarding their success, and especially In the dryer sec tions their ability to control the moisture. Others have failed by Just a little carv lecsness. Yet I know that wonderful progress has been made. I know much of what has been done In the splendid state of Montana and In other states of t he west. It is all good. We of the west no loiyrer need to defend ourselves from attack inspired by Jeal ousy or selfishness. The movement has made good, and day by day It Is becoming greater, grander, stronger. It Is significant to me that almost the only question now asked at every farmers' meeting where the subject Is discussed Is how to get results. But how well I rerollect that for years the chief dis cission was as to whether or not tinvthlnf could be done or accomplished by any dif ferent methods of tll'age. Tho clinnrt1 marks the passing from the old to the new. What Is the future of the west under scientific soil culture? If I was to speak what is In my heart you would credit me with extravagance or exaggeration. I have great confidence In the great west. I be. lleve of a truth that this region which is Just now coming Into Its cwn Is destined to be the last and the best great grain garden of the world, flood farming can be done here better and with less difficulty even than In the humid region, but the work niunt be understood and be carefully appll' d. The highest degree of Intelligence Is ih filed. It means real head work In every process. Sclenllflo tillage means to convert hen dreds of millions, of acres of the once seemingly worthless land of this great wes; Into rich farms with beautiful Ideal con ditions are maintained. It means produc ing grains and grasses for finishing off our live stock. It means producing and groves and school houses, towns and elite with banks and stores and newspapers. Yea, It means a stream of wealth pouring Into the channels of trade over these magnificent railroads. mistakes Still Being Made. But there are still mistakes being made and hopeful workers arc meeting with dis appointments now as In the past, only be cause they don't know how, Thora are regions In the southwest where as the re. suit of the drouth hundreds of families have moved aHsy; but in that same region there ate farms on which good crops have been secured, r allure and uecess lie side by side. I would therefore warn aguliiKt assuming that It is easy. M- n mu.'t learn and learn well before tliev can surceed. Old half hearted investigation and applica tion of all branches of study and research has always brought suie failure. Komi who have tried very hard to get results lu scientific soil culture have failed be cause they have kept their thoughts riveted on certain mechanical processes and have not given enough consideration to the principles Involved, therefore have never grasped the true foundation In securing the right physical condition. Others, for Instance, have fallen short because they have not watched the condition of the soli just beneath the mule'- So long aa the top of the compact soil Is moist tne con ditions are all right, but dryness of this top indicates that trouble Is near- at hand and the cultivator should be applied. It Is In these apparently little but all Im portant matters that success lies, and it Is when these many seemingly little thlnjs are well understood that the general aver age yield of all our farms will be doubled In good years and when such drouthy years as have prevailed in the southwest and may again occur In any part of the semi-arid country the results will ceara to dlscoursge or terrify the settlers. There fore I commend to you this motto: As j'fc cultivate so elm II the harvest be. CM DEFIED SIX HOSPITALS Oottors of "wo Continents Could Make No Impression on Torturing Skin Disease All Treatments Failed for Nineteen Years. THEN CUTICURA CURED 1 SWIFTLY AND EASILY "I contraoted rnr disease at sohool fn London, Englanil, when I was four teen years olJ I am now thirt y three. My fathnr put me under the care of our family physician who diag nosed my din-axe as Itch. But ater several months' treatment without receiving any benefit, I wae advised to go to g hospital. I attended the Hospital, Ixmdon. Then and on two othei occasions, without my get ting any rwnent. they tr-ated ine for ecr.nma. My next attempt was trying different ointments from doctor and druggists. 1 hen I tried patent medicine Including Bn . "I passed examination for Kovern ment situations but was finally re jected at the modical examination. After three attempt to enlist in the British army 1 succeeded at last but was discharged on account of ray ecxema. 1 he disease was confined to foe. arm and legs, my faoe being actually raw tt times. I came to America thirte-a yearn . but my face lecme worse. If possible. When in New York City ( wa advised to go to Hospital. whence I wa yenl to the Hosr.lul to Brooklyn. I was put under the care ot Prr feasor but thl also added to the number of unsucsful attempt. I returned home to Kngland and tried the HoxpitaJ, Liverpool, the -Hospital, London, also the world-famed London Hospital, but without get ting oured. I came back to America five rr ago. I had overlooked the Cutlcura h-medie downs of time but three month ago I deulded to give Cutioura a tnaJ and I cau safely ,lT am cured of one of the most torturing kin Aursm a man ever had. Richard turley, Newt anaan, Conn., Jan. 10 '0 " "I ain familiar with Mr. iCu'rley' cae aad hie cure and believe hi state ment to be true. John . burke, hew Canaan, Conn." Not. All the name left blank re gttreo lo full in Mr. Curley'g letter. capit In in ss loured Trtstsuat lot rvr II ui&ur i. .f ... ...... . .T1. " m.nm U. Juts. fMocur. Olslm.'t (fri'l U ! Ptm.. stoau.. I . 0f, ae-Mnie " kwi striae- acrlMioe. e-eUMul see - el rvtVuttj, WHw