DRY-FARMING 



the shape of the farm. If your land is 

 crooked or twisted, triangular, or wedge- 

 like it will often mean the loss of much 

 valuable time in planting, ploughing, 

 and harvesting. The best shape is a 

 square or rectangular block. 



Touching soil. The irrigation farmer, 

 as well as the dry-land farmer, must have 

 a good depth of soil if he wishes to utilize 

 his irrigation waters or his seasonal" rains 

 to the best advantage. All would-be- 

 farmers should make themselves thor- 

 oughly acquainted with the character of 

 their soil to the depth of 10 feet, as al- 

 ready pointed out, by sinking pits at 

 different points all over the land or by 

 boring with a deep -going post-hole au- 

 ger. Further, careful note should be 

 made of all ravines, railroad embank- 

 ments, ant-heaps, native trees, shrubs, 

 and grasses; anything in fact that may 

 indicate the true nature of the soil. Deep 

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