Since then climatic and soil conditions must have changed, for the application of water by irrigation to the same lands today, brings marvelous result.

The first dry farming in western Nebraska, as heretofore stated, was by Otto Baumgarten, at the Shiedley ranch near Big Springs. He raised some vegetables on a plat plowed upon an island, but this had the benefits of sub-irrigation. The extraordinary showing that vegetables would grow well was not encouraged by the ranchmen, who foresaw the end of the open range, if such evidence was to be put before the homeseekers.

Then General Anncon put in a small irrigation plant at the Sidney Fort in 1874. This was used by giving .each of the soldiers who would try it, a garden spot, and an offer of prizes to the best gardener.

There was not much success to the enterprise, the soldiers being indifferent gardeners, and several years later, the matter was a subject of conversation between Robert Oberfelder and General Merritt. Bob was told to "turn himself loose," and he had one of the finest of gardens, principally potatoes, growing, when the grasshoppers came along and left the ground absolutely bare.

The trees however, were doing fine, and the more venturesome and home-loving were making attempts with flower gardens. These generally developed until ten years after irrigation was put in, the places along the routes of the laterals, became beauty spots. Sidney looked to the eyes of the stranger who crossed the wide reaches of prairie, before arriving there, like a veritable oasis in the desert.