SOME POINTS IN PRACTICE 



moisture-saving mantle, and it remains 

 green after weeks of rainless weather. 



And the mistake of the semi-arid 

 mountain region is over-irrigation with 

 little or no cultivation. The same is 

 equally true of South African agricul- 

 ture. It is far easier to irrigate than to 

 cultivate when a crop shows signs of dis- 

 tress, and the soil soon becomes stagnant 

 with a surplus supply of water. Sun- 

 shine and air are excluded, the fertility of 

 the land impaired, and the root system 

 of the crop often permanently injured. 

 When farmers realize that many crops 

 can be successfully grown on dry lands 

 merely with good cultivation, they will 

 hesitate before embarking upon expen- 

 sive irrigation schemes, and will seriously 

 study the problem of better tillage before 

 they face the cost of constructing canals. 



Again, farming with irrigation usually 

 costs more per acre than dry-land f arm- 

 59 



