326 DRY FARMING 



of their growth during this period and be far enough 

 along to fill in good shape before the hot, dry weather 

 starts in. Fall-sown wheat commonly matures early and 

 the heads fill before the dry period. Such early maturing 

 strains as the Marquis Wheat, the Sixty-Day Oats and 

 the White Hulless Barley are rapidly growing spring 

 strains and they should be used on the dry farm. The 

 late maturing strains, which produce the heavy straw 

 returns, commonly exhaust the moisture in the soil before 

 the grains are developed and this means a light grain 

 return. 



273. Light Seeding. To economize the moisture pres- 

 ent, light seeding should be practised. Under humid or 

 irrigated conditions, two bushels of seed is a fair rate of 

 planting, while on the dry farms, from three to four 

 pecks has given better returns. The light seeding limits 

 the straw production and carries more moisture over foi 

 the maturing of the grain. 



The dry farmer, who would play safe, must have more 

 than one source of income. Where land returns on the 

 year's effort are all tied up in; one grain crop, a dry sea- 

 son has a very disastrous effect. Every dry farm should 

 carry some live stock, so that the risk of the dry period 

 is not so great. Even if forage may not be produced 

 during the dry spell, the live stock may be sold to some 

 extent and this will insure some income. Corn or Mam- 

 moth Russian sunflowers, if carefully cultivated, give 

 large silage returns, and with the winter and also the 

 summer silo, the pasture shortage may be supplemented. 

 Many successful dry farmers are filling one or more 

 silos and carrying them over to feed during the follow- 

 ing summer. This, as a pasture supplement, is most 

 valuable. 



