102 DRY FARMING 



oats, 2 to S}4 bushels; barley, 1^4 to 1% bushels; and 

 flax, 20 to 80 pounds. 



76. Sow Into the Moisture. — In dry areas the limiting 

 factor in germination is usually moisture. In this 

 climate very little rain falls in the early spring and if 

 germination is to be assured seeding into the moisture 

 is necessary. Man's part is to prepare the land in such 

 a way that the top of the moist soil is not at too great a 

 depth from the surface. 



77. Non-Shattering Varieties. — Very great losses fre- 

 quently occur through the shelling of over-ripe or easily 



Fig. 36a. — Harvesting Short Wlieat with a Header in Southern Alberta. 



This method of harvesting has not come into general use in the west, but 

 with short crops in areas of lowest rainfall it has some advantages over 

 the ordinary method of harvesting. 



shattered heads as a result of heavy winds at harvest 

 time. In order to lessen this danger two practices may 

 be followed, 1st, use crops that do not shatter readily, 

 and 2nd, cut before the crop is dead ripe. Among the 

 wheat varieties that shatter least are the Durum types 

 and Marquis. Kubanka seldom shatters even under the 

 worst conditions while Marquis is known to be more non- 

 shattering than any other of our commonly grown 

 varieties 



78. Short vs. Long Straw. — In dry areas and particu- 



