436 DRY LAND FARMING 



dry area, is thus virtually without limit. The growing of 

 the corn stores moisture in the soil for the next crop, 

 and feeding it off thus furnishes readily available fer- 

 tility. Such grazing is not well adapted to areas in 

 which considerable rain or snow falls in the autumn 

 months. 



The market for the surplus of the small flock should 

 be found chiefly on the farm itself. It should furnish an 

 important source from which the home supply of meat 

 may be obtained, especially in the winter season. When 

 finished in a wholesale way, as on crops that are grazed, 

 they will be in condition to meet the needs of any mar- 

 ket that may be accessible to them. 



Swine on the dry farm. The place for swine on the 

 dry farm will always be one of considerable importance. 

 From this source, more than any other, must come the 

 supply of farm meats. "To purchase meat for the home 

 on the dry farm that may be all grown upon it would 

 be a grave mistake, owing to the fact that pork may 

 be slaughtered at almost any age should necessity call 

 for it. Complications which sometimes arise with other 

 animals from over-stocking may be prevented. Where 

 a few cows are kept, the milk will aid greatly in giving 

 the swine a good start in growth at an early age. 



But even in the absence of cows, swine may be 

 grown with much profit. The young pigs should remain 

 on the dams until they become self-weaned, and the 

 farmer should be content, as a rule, with but one litter 

 from each dam in one year. With the aid of skim milk, 

 two litters may be grown save where the winters are 

 quite cold. The dry land farmer is not in a position to 

 grow swine as cheaply or as numerously as the farmer 

 who grows the same in irrigated areas. In summer al- 

 falfa is the basic pasture for swine in the larger portion 

 of the dry country. But other pasture, as Dwarf Essex 

 rape, beardless and hulless barley, is good. In the south 



