WHAT IS MEANT BY DRY FARMING 23 



at once when it is plowed, of deepening the cultivated 

 area to increase its moisture-holding power, and of main- 

 taining a smooth and fine surface mulch or one that is 

 furrowed and uneven so as to best meet the conditions 

 of the precipitation. 



In every detail of the work the farmer must observe 

 promptness. To defer plowing land for one week when 

 it is in proper condition may make the difference between 

 success and failure in growing a crop of winter wheat, 

 howsoever carefully the land may be managed sub- 

 sequently. The loss of one day in harrowing land after 

 a considerable rain may result in the loss of a large part 

 of the moisture that is brought to the soil. Neglecting 

 to make a dust mulch on autumn plowed ground in the 

 early spring, may result in a loss of moisture that may 

 be followed by a loss of crop, a result that the timely 

 establishing of such a mulch might have prevented. 



From what has been said, it will be very evident that 

 dry farming calls for a high order of intelligence in order 

 to conduct it on the most approved lines. The careless 

 farmer who follows shipshod methods may secure a 

 livelihood after a fashion from the soil in humid areas, 

 but he cannot do this in dry areas. It is a foregone con- 

 clusion that he will utterly fail. The great mistake of 

 dry land farmers who come from humid areas is that of 

 trying to grow crops by methods that brought them 

 results in humid areas. These methods will not avail. 

 Dry land farming is special farming. It is done by 

 special methods, and the first duty of those who engage 

 in it is to ascertain what those methods are. 



