CEREAL CULTIVATION WESTERN AREA 409 



remained dry until the rains came. Perhaps on the same 

 principle may be explained the injury to grain treated 

 with formalin for prevention of bunt, discussed in Chapter 

 XVII, for which, however, another cause is there given 

 (563). Unless the treated kernels are thoroughly dried, 

 which is rarely true in practice, some of them will be just 

 sufficiently moist that the slightest moisture in the soil 

 will be able to germinate them or injure them, but not 

 able to cause growth, and therefore they die. The un- 

 treated kernels, being perfectly dry, are proof against the 

 slight soil moisture, and remain sound until the rains 

 come. It is a common practice in arid sections to sow 

 grain in the dry soil and wait for the late rains to come 

 and bring it up. 



435. Method of seeding. It is important in all dry- 

 farming districts to sow small grains with the drill, in 

 order to put the seed in close contact with the fine soil 



FIG. 134. Press drill. 



