LAND AND OTHER AGENTS OF PRODUCTION 149 



series of dry years which culminated in the disastrous drought of 1894 

 not only demonstrated that these methods were unprofitable where 

 the problem of moisture conservation was most important, but it 

 actually served to depopulate a considerable part of the more arid 

 portions of the Great Plains area. Many farmers abandoned their 

 farms, which were sold for taxes and finally fell into the hands of large 

 land companies. 



Since 1894 there has been a somewhat regular increase in the 

 annual precipitation throughout the Great Plains area, until hi 1905 

 it reached the highest point recorded by the Weather Bureau, but only 

 very slightly in excess of the precipitation of 1883. This increase in 

 precipitation, which made the agricultural conditions more favorable, 

 together with the demand for cheap farm lands, had the effect of 

 causing these large land companies to exploit what is now generally 

 known as "dry farming." 



Many of the settlers had learned by bitter experience that it 

 would be necessary to adopt even more thorough methods of tillage 

 here than had been required in the more humid east. No new dis- 

 coveries had been made as to the principles or practices of thorough 

 tillage, but it had been learned that thorough tillage was necessary. 

 It has long been known that the loss of moisture from a stubble field 

 left bare by harvesting the crop is greater than at any other time. 

 This is particularly true in the semiarid districts, where the tempera- 

 ture and wind velocity are usually very high at this time of year. In 

 order to avoid this loss of moisture, it is desirable to plow the land as 

 soon as possible after the crop is removed. 



Where the annual precipitation is only barely sufficient for the 

 crop it is of the greatest importance that the soil be kept in such con- 

 dition that it will be able to store as large a proportion of the rain that 

 falls as possible. It is therefore evident that plowing should not only 

 be done as early as is possible in the fall or late summer, but the plow- 

 ing should be deep enough to afford a reservoir to receive the rains that 

 fall during the autumn and winter following. 



If the land is plowed during hot, dry, summer weather and is 

 allowed to lie loosely as it is left by the plow, there will be a great loss 

 of moisture by evaporation. It is therefore necessary thoroughly to 

 compact the soil as soon as possible after plowing. 



If rains occur after the plowing and packing have been done they 

 will form a crust upon the surface and the evaporation from the soil 

 will be greatly increased. It is therefore advisable to harrow the 



