CROPS THAT MAY BE GROWN IN DRY AREAS 199 



The field pea, very frequently designated the Cana- 

 dian field pea, will come to be extensively grown in 

 dry areas, but not in all parts of the same. The pea 

 cannot endure the same amount of drought and heat 

 as speltz, for instance, hence its best growth will be in 

 the more humid portions of the dry belt, and especially 

 where the elevation is so high that extremely hot weather 

 seldom or never comes. The soil in the semi-arid coun- 

 try is well supplied with the food constituents that will 

 produce large yields in grain from peas when grown un- 

 der proper conditions. On some of the mountain plateaus, 

 very large crops of peas have been grown, and also on 

 the prairies in the northern part of the dry region. But 

 where the precipitation runs quite low, the attempt 

 should not be made to grow peas. Southward the cow- 

 pea may be grown in certain areas, but it is not really 

 a drought-resistant plant. 



Fodder crops that may be grown. This discussion 

 will consider the place: (1) for corn; (2) for sorghum; 

 (3) for the non-saccharine sorghums, and (4) for millets 

 and also mixed grains. It will be observed that fodder 

 crops in the discussion means such crops as are grown 

 mainly for fodder, but which may also furnish some 

 grain. For instance, the corn referred to may have on 

 it nubbins, that is, small ears of various sizes bearing 

 mature grain. In the semi-arid area, the question of 

 providing fodder is one of much significance, since the 

 hay-producing plants are not numerous. These crops, 

 except in the case of the small grains, call for cultivation 

 while in process of growth. 



The corn crop is destined to be the most important 

 among fodder crops that can be grown over fully two- 

 thirds of the dry area. In the remaining third, that is, 

 in the third that lies southward, the sorghums will, to 

 a large extent, at least, take its place. It should be 

 remembered, however, that corn, even for fodder, cannot 



