WHAT IS MEANT BY DRY FARMING 21 



be secured from indifferent methods of soil preparation. 

 In dry areas this result will seldom follow. In the former 

 it is seldom necessary to conserve moisture to aid in 

 growing the next crop. In dry areas it is indispensably 

 necessary. In humid areas but little attention is called 

 for in firming the seed bed by artificial methods, in dry 

 areas such firming of the seed bed is essential to success. 



In humid areas the season for sowing is much more 

 prolonged both in the spring and in the autumn than in 

 those that are dry, hence timeliness in sowing is relatively 

 more important. In the former sowing or planting that 

 is delayed beyond the usual time may not result in crop 

 failure or even in greatly diminished yields in all 

 instances. In the latter it will commonly result in failure 

 that is absolute or approximately so. Early sowing, 

 though important in all areas, is relatively less so in 

 moist areas, as in these the moisture necessary to mature 

 good crops is much more likely to be present than in dry 

 areas. In the latter it is absolutely essential to sow crops 

 in good season to avoid the hazard of failure. 



When caring for the crops in humid areas, what is 

 not done today may in many instances be done nearly 

 if not quite as well tomorrow. The moisture content in 

 the soil, especially in so far as it relates to a sufficiency 

 for seed germination, is practically assured. In dry 

 areas the moisture that is not conserved today may in a 

 considerable degree be lost tomorrow. In humid areas it 

 may not be necessary to compress and pack the lower 

 surface of the soil when preparing the seed bed. In dry 

 areas this may be greatly important. In humid areas it 

 may not be necessary to harrow cereals after growth has 

 begun. In dry areas this may be indispensable to success. 



In the very nature of -things dry farming will result 

 in greater freedom from weed growth than farming in 

 humid areas. In the former the natural conditions are 

 much less favorable to germination and growth in weeds 



