Planting 



When the cHmate will permit, it is advisable to sow seed in the fall. 

 It is quite important, however, to secure a good germination and a 

 strong growth before winter; otherwise, the crop will winter-kill. If 

 the kernel simply germinates and freezes, it will die. If it germinates 

 and the growth is stopped on account of the soil being devoid of mois- 

 ture, it will start again if it receives rain. Instances are on record where 

 a grain has germinated five times, securing at last a fairly good crop. 



The farmer should use good judgment in selecting the time to plant. 

 If he can manage to plant just before or just after a rain, the seed will 

 germinate very quickly and the growth will be rapid, for the reason that 

 summer-fallowed land is more fertile — especially in the nitrates, in the 

 early fall than in the spring. It is well known that nitrates disappear 

 to a great extent as soon as the weather becomes cold. 



Depth to Plant 



In this the farmer must again use good judgment. The depth to 

 which seed may be safely placed depends upon the vitality of the seed, 

 the nature of the soil, and the amount of available water and the physi- 

 cal condition of the soil. We know that the seed must contain a suffi- 

 cient amount of nutrition within itself to germinate, throwing out 

 holding roots and a stem above ground far enough to breathe in carbon- 

 dioxide before plant food can be taken out of the soil. If the seed is 

 planted too deep, the vitality may be exhausted before the stem reaches 

 air. Again, if planted too shallow and rains do not come or moisture 

 is not drawn from below, germination will not take place. If, however, 

 the seed can be placed in moist soil at a reasonable depth, the germi- 

 nation is so quick and strong, if the seed is exceptionally rich, that 

 there is little danger of the vitality being exhausted before the leaf 

 begins to absorb carbon. It is always a good plan for the farmer to 

 anticipate a loss of a per cent of the seed by sowing a greater quantity 

 than is expected to grow. In sowing grain the drill should be used. 

 Broadcasting has proven to be a failure in dry-land farming. 



After the farmer has sown the seed, he will greatly facilitate germi- 

 nation and materially assist capillarity by using the corrugated roller. 

 In sections where high winds prevail, the roller should be run at right 

 angles to the predominating wind. 



Seed 



The dry-land farmer should select seed and strains that are known 

 to possess great drouth-resisting qualities. He should, as far as possi- 

 ble use seed that was grown in his vicinity, unless he can secure some 

 from about the same latitude in a dry-land section. Great care should 

 be taken in selecting seed that was fully matured and received proper 



