224 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



deep rooting is made possible by the greater permeability of western 

 soils. The subsoil is not as raw and unproductive as in humid 

 climates. There are of course exceptions such as shallow heavy 

 soils. For the feeding area of the root to be limited by ground 

 water near the surface is the exception. 



It requires many years for crops from humid climates to adapt 

 themselves to arid conditions, hence the farmer should take ad- 

 vantage of any strain or variety which has already acquired drought- 

 resisting qualities. Home grown seed should always be given the 

 preference. We now have varieties of wheat grown in the inter- 

 mountain region for 25 years or more and these are thoroughly ac- 

 climated. 



General Observations. Success is more likely to follow the 

 careful selection of crops adapted to dry land conditions than to 

 promiscuous planting of seeds, regardless of capacity to withstand 

 conditions imposed. Among the qualities desirable are hardiness 

 and ability to survive severe winter weather unprotected, drought 

 resistance structurally capable of living in dry atmosphere without 

 undue transpiration of water. The cactus is an example of great 

 drought resistance. Plants with small leaf surface are less likely to 

 suffer in a dry climate. Early maturity enables the plant to mature 

 its seed before the pinch of drought overtakes it. Generally early 

 maturing varieties are best suited to a dry climate. Deep rooting 

 habits are more favorable than superficial root systems. Alfalfa and 

 other deep rooting plants avail themselves of moisture to great depths 

 and may even find perennial success of subterranean water. Such 

 plants are affected least by the drying out of the surface soil. Plants 

 that remain dormant during drought and do not die but start into 

 growth with new supplies of moisture are of great advantage. 



For dry farming use seed grown on dry land ; never seed from 

 humid climates or grown with irrigation. Early maturity is an 

 advantage and that characteristic should be sought for in dry land 

 crops. In seeding wheat or other cereals on dry land only half as 

 much seed should be used as in humid climates or on irrigated land. 



Moisture Conservation. The first great consideration in dry 

 farming is to conserve the moisture. As a rule, the soil is fertile 

 enough and the one thing lacking is moisture to make the plant food 

 in the soil available ; and as there is a deficiency in the precipitation, 

 the soil moisture is the main reliance of the plant. 



The dry land farmer must continually bear in mind that in 

 order to succeed, he must study the physical characteristics of his 

 soil and take advantage of every possible means of conserving all 

 the moisture that falls, whether it comes during the preparation of 

 the land for seeding, during the growing period of the crop, or after 

 a crop has been harvested. The foundation principle of conserva- 

 tion of moisture is to provide and maintain at the surface a layer 

 of loose soil which serves to prevent the escape of moisture by evap- 

 oration. In the majority of cases, it will be necessary to conserve 

 the moisture of two seasons for a single crop ; and early deep plowing, 

 summer tilling of the land, and so arranging the crops that two 



