392 DRY LAND FARMING 



up on which it grew, the percolation following in the 

 line of the decayed roots adds to the moisture content 

 of the soil. A rotation, therefore, that will bring about 

 such a result should be the aim. The more that it calls 

 for the judicious stirring of the surface soil, the more 

 is the moisture likely to be increased in the soil. 



In dry areas, rotation of some kind is absolutely 

 necessary to make farming profitable. Under all condi- 

 tions this may not be absolutely necessary in humid 

 areas. In these the farmer may begin with virgin soil. 

 He may grow successive crops of the same kind on the 

 same, for a term of years, at a profit. The duration of 

 such profitable production will depend on the original 

 fertility of the land and on the skill or lack of skill 

 which he shows in taking fertility out quickly or slowly 

 by the large or small crops which he grows. It is dif- 

 ferent with the farmer in the semi-arid region. He must 

 have regard also to the moisture content in the soil. 

 Without some kind of a rotation he cannot adequately 

 retain moisture enough to enable him to grow crops. At 

 the very outset, therefore, he must have some regard to 

 rotation. 



Rotation by alternating fallow and grain. The dis- 

 cussion of this question will ask: (1) how such rota- 

 tion is conducted ; (2) the benefit emanating therefrom ; 

 (3) the area for the same, and (4) the objections that 

 may be offered to it. 



This rotation grows grain each alternate year, and 

 summet-fallows the land in each of the years that inter- 

 vene. Any kind of cereal may be thus grown which it 

 may be desired to grow. Such a rotation is especially 

 well adapted to growing winter wheat, since it virtually 

 insures the germination of the seed even in a dry year 

 and at the season when the crop may be best sown. No 

 other kind of preparation can be given to the land that 

 will so well secure this end. A cultivated crop should 



