farming under dry land conditions. Where strict grain farming is followed, a crop failure may be very serious; but where both grain and live stock are raised, there is the chance, if the necessity arises, of selling off some of the live stock in order to get through the period of stress. Animals are also important in that they furnish a profitable market for the roughage produced on the farm. Without stock this roughage would have little value and would necessarily be largely wasted. Some parts of western Nebraska are only at the beginning of their development. The possibilities, even under the climatic limitations, are still great for the man who will establish himself there and work in accord with nature. The prospects are bright for the man with a reasonable amount of capital and who goes there clearly realizing what he is up against. If this man carefully studies the local conditions and adapts himself to those conditions, he is as sure to win there as elsewhere. He should not allow himself to be hampered by false hopes and theories. He cannot carry with him hard and fast rules by which to farm. Under the erratic climatic conditions of that section, any system of farming to be successful must be sufficiently elastic to meet conditions as they arise. By studying the conditions as they exist on his own farm and carefully considering the various factors that influence crop production, he can determine the kind and amount of labor that should be expended. By doing each operation in the most advantageous way and as nearly as possible at the right time, the labor required can be materially decreased, more land gotten over with a given amount of equipment, and the cost of production lowered.

Girls' Industrial School, Geneva

     The Nebraska Conservation and Public Welfare Commission, under which the Bureau of Publicity operates, was established by legislative enactment in 1913. The commission consists of the Governor of Nebraska, the Chancellor of the State University, the Director of the Conservation and Soil Survey, the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture and the Director of the Legislative Bureau. The Nebraska Conservation and Soil Survey, which is a part of the Public Welfare work, was established at the same time. The purpose and duties of the Conservation and Public Welfare Commission are outlined by the statutes as follows:
     "To act in an advisory capacity in correlating the work of the various state surveys, and other statistical departments of the state and to use the data furnished by these surveys in securing the greatest development of the resources of the state of Nebraska and the highest economic and social welfare of its citizens. The duties of the said commission shall be: (a) To serve as an advisory board for the various state surveys and assemble data regarding the resources and industries of the state and the physical, economic and social conditions existing therein. (b) To gather annually the statistical facts with regard to production in the state, and the social and economic conditions existing therein. (c) To study and cause to be studied these facts for the purpose of developing the resources of the state and improving the welfare of its inhabitants. (d) To make plans, based on conclusions from these facts and execute such plans for the purpose of developing the resources of the state and improving the welfare of its inhabitants. (e) To make public and publish the facts ascertained and through the medium of publicity promote the development of the resources of the state and the welfare of its inhabitants."
     The Conservation and Soil Survey, which is under the direction of the regents of the University of Nebraska, is to serve the following purposes: (a) "Make a survey of the natural resources and accurately describe them for use in state development. The resources to receive major consideration are soil, water and forests. (b) Study and report upon water power and road building resources as soon as possible consistent with good work. (c) Study and describe the operations, production and importance of the leading industries of the state. (d) Investigate and report upon special conservation problems. (e) Serve as an information bureau with reference to the state's resources, industries and development."
     The Conservation and Soil Survey is under the direction of the University regents, the actual work being performed by Dr. George E. Condra of the University of Nebraska faculty. The members of the Public Welfare Commission are:

KEITH NEVILLE SAMUEL AVERY GEORGE E. CONDRA A. E. SHELDON B. H. DANIELSON

Governor Chancellor University of Nebraska Director Conservation and Soil Survey Director State Legislative Reference Bureau Secretary State Board of Agriculture

         

Hospital, Soldiers' and Sailors' Home

     The legislature of 1917 amended the Public Welfare act by providing for the appointment of a Director of Publicity and an appropriation of $12,500 made for its maintenance during the biennium. In accordance with the amended act Governor Neville, with the approval of the other members of the commission, appointed Will M. Maupin to be Director of Publicity. The Publicity Department is now located in commodious quarters in the State House.

     Nebraska's real place among the apple producing states is not well enough known. While other states have been advertising and thereby reaping valuable advertising, Nebraska has been content to raise the apples and reap profits. It is only recently, however, that Nebraska apple raisers have been giving especial attention to production and scientific marketing. For many years men who set out apple orchards were content to let "nature take its course," and as a result orchards deteriorated and apple raising received a "black eye." The State College of Agriculture gave especial attention to this branch of production, and several years ago young men, graduates of the school, engaged in the industry and gave it intelligent application. They soon demonstrated that an apple tree, like a dairy cow or a work horse, would respond to kind treatment. Under the guidance many old orchards were pruned, sprayed and cultivated, and the natural result was more and better apples. But it was not enough to produce the apples. There still remained the problem of marketing. For years "apples were apples" in the opinion of the producers, and they were hauled to town and dumped indiscriminately into box cars for