The Conquest of the Desert 



The durum wheats have stood the test of 

 time. They have proved to be highly resistant 

 to drought, heat and rust. And so we believe 

 that by the introduction of these varieties into 

 the Union the wheat problem has been solved. 

 For with dry-farming and these cereals we shall 

 be able to extend our agricultural operations to 

 the driest districts, develop an export oversea 

 trade, and establish thriving settlements in the 

 waste places of Africa. 



Method of Cultivation 



The method of cultivation adopted for wheat 

 is as follows : — The virgin velt is well ploughed, 

 varying in depth from eight to fourteen inches. 

 A disk harrow is then used for the twofold 

 object of pulverising the clods and stirring the 

 soil as deeply as possible. For that purpose we 

 use a 20-inch disk harrow, and it is pleasant to 

 think that the finest implement of this type 

 is made by an English firm, Messrs J. and F. 

 Howard, of Bedford. A steel-tooth harrow is 

 then passed over the field to form a layer of fine 

 earth on the surface from two to three inches 

 deep. This is the soil-mulch or earth-blanket. 

 The land is then allowed to rest, but should it 



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