CHAPTER XI 

 GROWING GRAIN CROPS IN DRY AREAS 



The chief of the small grains grown in Montana, and 

 in fact in all the states north of Salt Lake City, include 

 the following: Winter and spring wheat, winter and 

 spring rye, flax, barley, oats, peas and speltz. The aim 

 has been to name these in the order of relative importance 

 viewed from the standpoint of possible profitable pro- 

 duction based on the climate and soil conditions. But 

 it does not follow that the relative importance thus as- 

 signed to them will correspond with the extent to which 

 they will be grown by the farmer, at least for many years 

 to come. There can be no question, however, about the 

 place that shall be assigned to wheat in the semi-arid 

 region. It will probably continue to hold the premier 

 place among the revenue producing crops on the unirri- 

 gated land during the centuries that are yet to be. 



GROWING WHEAT, WINTER AND SPRING 



While both winter and spring wheat may and will be 

 grown on the lands of much of the semi-arid country, win- 

 ter wheat will, in nearly all instances, be the more im- 

 portant crop. This will follow, first, from the fact that it 

 will produce much larger yields than spring wheat ; such 

 at least has been the case in all areas practically that have 

 been found favorable to the growth of winter wheat. The 

 difference will probably be not less than 50 per cent, in 

 favor of winter wheat on the average. It will follow, 

 second, from the fact that winter wheat will mature ear- 

 lier than spring wheat and will, therefore, be much less 

 injured by the drought and heat that characterize the 

 summer months. It will follow, third, from the fact that 

 it so changes the time of the sowing and the reaping, 

 that the farmer can grow this crop without adding to the 



