242 



DRY FARMING 



found as a rule to be a good practice, although in a few 

 places where the land is extremely heavy late fall irri- 

 gation is of somewhat doubtful value. 



194. Grain Crops. — There has been some contention as 

 to the advisability of irrigating growing grain in certain 

 localities where the season is short, and the grain slow in 



Fig. 86. — Irrigating Wheat, Strathmore, Alta. 



ripening, on account of danger from frost in the fall. In 

 such localities this difficulty can be overcome by irri- 

 gating the land in the fall after the growing season is 

 over. This is a commendable practice under all circum- 

 stances. But in dry seasons even when the land has 

 been irrigated the fall previous, the growing crop must 

 be irrigated again if maximum yields are to be obtained. 

 In most districts where irrigation is now practised grow- 

 ing grain can be irrigated quite safely, and certainly ad- 

 vantageously, providing the water is applied before the 

 crop has suffered materially from drought. The secret 

 of raising grain successfully under irrigation is pre- 

 paredness. The period in which water can be applied to 



