Excerpt of the book "Writer and Engraver's Picture of Graham County's Progress Since Its Organization" (1906)

Model Farm

(pages 27-29)

The best friend to humanity is the genius, who by persistent effort and devotion to an idea, is enabled to give to the world a means by which man may better utilize the natural conditions which surrounds him.

Such a friend was Professor Campbell, who gave to the semi-arid plains of the west, the secret of “dry farming,” whereby fine crops may be raised with little rainfall. This is Mr. Campbell’s theory explained: “The result is accomplished, by storing the rainfall in the soil, and by keeping the surface of the ground always loose, which stops evaporation. Thus you can make 14 inches of rain go as far as 25 or 30 inches. This is done by stirring up the soil with revolving disc and then going over it and filling up the furrows, repeating this process again and again until the last of June, after every rain stirring up the soil either with a disc or an Acme Harrow.

In preparing for the planting of wheat, the soil is plowed 7 inches deep and followed with a sub-surface packer, giving a compact, solid bottom, 4 inches from the surface under the loose soil.

It is then gone over with the Acme harrow keeping the top soil loose and pulverized. This is called summer tilling and after working the soil for a year in this way, the wheat is planted in the fall or spring as usual.

After one year of summer tilling, 3 crops can be grown in succession without renewing the cultivation.”

Mr. Campbell says, “Certain scientific phenomena must be observed also. After a certain amount of rain has fallen and penetrated a certain distance into the soil, each particle of earth absorbs its share of water until the entire rain fall has been absorbed.

If we hold this water in the soil during the summer season, a chemical action will follow which produces nitrates and generates bacteria or nitrogen in the soil. The theory is that the bacteria are latent in the soil and can only be developed by moisture and cultivation. I am not opposed to irrigation, but it is unnecessary wherever there is a rainfall of not less than 14 inches.”

It was through the financial interest made manifest by J.P. Pomeroy of Colorado, that Mr. Campbell’s theory was put into actual practice. Just outside the limits of Hill City, Mr. Pomeroy bought 240 acres of land where Mr. Campbell laid out the first of his 100 model farms on his system of soil culture.

This was six years ago and each season’s crops have forcibly demonstrated the practicability of the Campbell theory, for the yield of wheat, oats, corn, potatoes and everything else that grows, is three to the five times as great as is harvested on the other side of the fences.

“And there is no more beautiful farm in the country. The orchard six years old, is equal to any that can be found; the hedges that divide the fields and surround the garden are 12 to 14 feet high; the vegetable garden, the berry bushes, the flowers and the foliage are equal to any upon the best irrigated farm in California; while the wheat, corn and potatoes are simply perfect.”

This original Model Farm was bought from Mr. Pomeroy by E. V. Cumberford and H. H. Barbee last March for a consideration of $15,000.00. They have put down a well of 360 feet and are expecting to erect a stone residence in addition to making other minor improvements.