218 DRY LAND FARMING 



vested sufficiently early to admit of following with winter 

 wheat. : -^|f] 



The wheat crop should be followed by summer-fal- 

 low or by a cultivated crop where the rainfall is not more 

 than 15 inches. Where the rainfall is less than 15 inches, 

 a grain crop may succeed but it may also fail, dependent 

 on the character of the season. The cultivated crop 

 that follows will more probably be corn because of the 

 extent to which that crop will be grown, but any annual 

 crop that is cultivated will suffice. Where the rainfall 

 is more than 15 inches it may be in order to grow two 

 crops of grain in succession, especially after land that 

 has been fallowed, but it is better to make the second 

 some crop other than wheat. 



The aim should be to avoid growing wheat after 

 wheat in. immediate succession, but it may be allowable 

 under the following conditions: (1) Where the rainfall is 

 between 15 and 20 inches per year while the land is yet 

 new ; (2) where the land is summer-fallowed every other 

 year while the soil is yet new, and well stocked with 

 plant food and humus ; (3) where wheat and corn are 

 grown in alternation for a number of years ; (4) when a 

 second crop is taken from land that has been summer- 

 fallowed without re-plowing for the same. But in all 

 instances it will be found necessary to modify these ro- 

 tations after the land has been cropped for a number of 

 years. In dry areas wheat should not be made to follow 

 other grain crops. 



Preparing the soil. In dry areas the land is more 

 frequently prepared for growing wheat by what is known 

 as the summer-fallowing plan. It will also be much 

 grown in the near future after a cultivated crop, espe- 

 cially after corn. But it will also be grown more or 

 less by methods that are hazardous. These will be 

 considered. 



