ARID AGRICULTURE. 55 



selves to arid conditions that they produce less 

 top and leaf surface to evaporate the water and 

 put their energies chiefly into the production of 

 seed or fruit rather than into the making of 

 much growth. We find nothing in these scien- 

 tific speculations which is discouraging to the 

 dry farmer or which would indicate that it is 

 impossible to produce profitable crops of suitable 

 plants once in two years where the annual rain- 

 fall is as little as eight or ten inches. "The proof 

 of the pudding is in the eating," and such crops 

 having actually been produced under such condi- 

 tions, is sufficient demonstration of the fact. 



Having the principal rainfall come during 

 the growing season is a great advantage in some 

 \VIIY-. Often a crop will have used up the stored 

 soil moisture and be ready to give up the struggle 

 when a rain will revive the plants and make 

 them mature >ii(-;-cs^fully. This enables the 

 farmer to take advantage of that useful s<:ni- 

 dormant or waiting character of certain drouth- 

 resistant plains. 



Maintaining the soil mulch is one of the 

 nmsr important factors in the success of dry 

 farming. It is by the soil mulch that we are 

 able to make our soils absorb all the moisture 

 that comes to them by precipitation or from dews 

 or other nmistnre. By it we conserve this mois- 

 ture and prevent its loss back into t\ie air by 

 evaporation. Summer-tilled land should at all 



