188 DRY LAND FARMING 



ditions, but doubly so under those which obtain in semi- 

 arid countries. 



The soil is usually in a condition to admit of plant- 

 ing seed earlier under dry than under humid conditions. 

 This arises in part from the peculiarities of the soil, but 

 more from the limited precipitation that usually falls 

 early in the season. In the semi-arid belt it seldom hap- 

 pens that the usual season for planting is delayed by 

 undue wetness in the soil, but it does sometimes happen 

 that delay follows because of lack of moisture in the soil. 

 Should the season for planting come in the spring, and 

 yet the soil is too lacking in moisture to bring germina- 

 tion to the seed, the wisdom of planting or of withhold- 

 ing the same until moisture comes will depend somewhat 

 on the usual season of normal rainfall. When this comes 

 during the perio'd of growth, it may frequently be wiser 

 to plant than not to plant, as seed in the soil when rain 

 falls will usually start more quickly than seed put into 

 the soil after rain. But the hazard should be avoided 

 in planting, as in sowing, of putting seed into soil when 

 in a condition to start germination without perfecting 

 the same. 



The season, of course, influences the time for plant- 

 ing equally with the time for sowing. This influence 

 alone may make a difference of at least several weeks 

 in the best time at which to plant a certain variety of 

 seed. Latitude also is, of course, a potent influence, and 

 so is elevation. Both must be taken into account when 

 determining the best time at which to plant. Altitude 

 alone may make a difference of several weeks in the 

 favorable season for planting in the same locality. Among 

 the reasons why planting may be done in soils less warm 

 than those in humid areas, and also relatively earlier, are 

 the following: (1) The crops planted are intrinsically 

 hardier, and, therefore, can endure more hardship; (2) 

 the soils are less moist, and, because of this, lack of 



