CHAPTER XII 

 GROWING CULTIVATED CROPS IN DRY AREAS 



In all areas where the rainfall is less than could be 

 desired, the growing of cultivated crops will always have 

 a relatively important place. This arises in part from the 

 degree of the certainty with which these crops may be 

 grown with success, and in part from the excellent prepa- 

 ration which they make for the growing of the small 

 grains that follow them in the rotation. 



The more important of the crops that must always 

 be given cultivation in these areas to grow them at their 

 best are: (1) corn; (2) the sorghums; (3) potatoes; (4) 

 field beans ; (5) field roots, and (6) artichokes. These 

 are probably valuable in the order named. Of course, 

 various other valuable plants, as alfalfa, are given more 

 or less cultivation during the period of their growth, but 

 when growing them cultivation is not always impera- 

 tively necessary. 



GROWING CORN 



Beyond all question, corn is by far the most impor- 

 tant cultivated crop that will ever be grown in the semi- 

 arid country. The great significance of the crop for 

 such areas lies iri the fact, first, that it will be the most 

 important source of fodder obtainable, with the possible 

 exception of alfalfa ; second, that it is the surest important 

 crop obtainable from spring-plowed land and from land 

 that has produced a crop of small grain the previous 

 year; and, third, that a crop of small grain may be grown 

 after corn which will give a fair return almost any 

 season. This crop will be grown for the fodder alone, 

 for fodder and grain combined, and for the grain alone. 

 For the fodder only it will be grown under climatic con- 

 ditions that will not properly mature the crop because 



