which the novice is sure to encounter, hence our advice to take a pre- 

 hminary course in the school of experience. 



DRY-LAND FARMING 



DRY-LAND farming is a name given to tilling the land in sections 

 of the country where the annual rainfall is scant. The principles 

 involve intensive cultivation and proper management with a view of 

 storing water in the deeper subsoils and subsequently preventing need- 

 less waste by evaporation. 



The principles, however, applied to dry-land farming are applicable 

 to any section of the United States, and when all farmers adopt the 

 same thorough method of tillage that the dry-land farmers are obliged 

 to, if they are at all successful, the increase in production will be far 

 greater than the increase in our population. What is termed dry land 

 will not tolerate careless work or neglect. All operations from the seed- 

 bed to the harvest are interdependent, and the harvest will correspond 

 to the weakest step in the several operations. 



An improperly made seed-bed is like a shifting sand foundation for a 

 house. The seed-bed is the foundation for the crop. It must be so 

 made that it will readily receive and absorb rainfalls, be they light 

 or heavy. Primarily it must be deep and mellow. A deep, mellow seed- 

 bed acts as a temporary reservoir to receive and hold water until it 

 precolates into the deeper subsoils. If it is shallow, a rainfall of two 

 or three inches during one shower will not be absorbed, but as soon as 

 the hard-pan is reached the surplus will run away. 



A deep seed-bed insures a rapid and strong development of young 

 roots with strength to penetrate deep. A shallow seed-bed means 

 delicate roots which seek the course of least resistance in the loose 

 surface soils. That statement can be verified by any farmer who will 

 take the trouble to make a careful investigation. A deep seed-bed 

 means good ventilation and an abundance of room for plant food. It 

 must be remembered that plant roots first seek water and they will go 

 to it if they have strength, hence the farmer should exert every effort 

 to encourage their early development. 



In order to make this subject plain, let us start with a field of ripe 

 grain. The grain shades the ground, and in a measure, prevents the 

 broiling sun from drawing away moisture. Moisture is the elixir cf 

 plant life, and every particle possible must be saved. How can this 

 be accomplished ? You know that the surface is full of cracks, ycu 

 know that as soon as the grain is cut, every stalk is an escape chimney. 

 You know that moisture will escape by both cracks and stems. What 

 should be done? 



