SOWING AND PLANTING IN DRY AREAS 175 



excess of moisture. Such compression, however, is help- 

 ful to nearly all the soils of the dry areas. 



There is also a saving in the amount of seed called 

 for. This is the outcome of the more perfect germina- 

 tion secured in drill sowing. In humid areas the saving 

 thus effected is fully 12 J4 per cent, which means that 

 where 8 pecks of seed are called for when sown on the 

 broadcast plan, 7 pecks will answer the same purpose 

 when sown by the drill. The saving thus effected in 

 dry areas will be quite as much relatively, but it will 

 be less absolutely, because of the less amount of seed 

 called for in dry areas. The saving in the amount of 

 seed called for will be at least relative, and this will 

 mean that the saving effected in the amount of seed 

 called for would soon pay for the cost of a drill where 

 large areas of grain are to be sown. In moist areas 

 the saving thus effected in seed is less than one peck 

 per acre. In humid areas it is not less than half that 

 amount. With so much of saving on each acre, the 

 entire saving thus effected would soon repay the out- 

 lay incurred in purchasing a drill where the area to be 

 sown is large. 



The disadvantages of broadcasting. One of the 

 great disadvantages resulting from broadcasting the 

 seed is, that in all instances when thus sown it may 

 not be deposited deeply enough to enable it to reach 

 moist soil. If the moisture has left the surface for some 

 distance downward, the seed may not germinate at all 

 until rains come, and when these come the season may 

 be too far advanced to result in the production of a 

 crop. 



A second disadvantage is, that the seeds will be 

 covered at a depth so uneven that germination cannot 

 fail to be uneven, though all the conditions for good 

 germination should be favorable. Should they prove un- 

 favorable, the evil will be aggravated. When seed is 



