— A — 



4) Increasing the quantity of manure in the soil to improve the 

 relations betweens soil and water and to obtain more durability of structure. 



5) Manuring the soil with dung, artificial manure and salts for the 

 accumulation of manure in the soil: for rich and more complete develop- 

 ment of roots and for more productive expenditure of water. 



6) Seasonable tillage of fields for a larger accumulation of humi- 

 dity in the soil. 



7) Constructing open ditches and using the mole-plough instead of 

 the ordinary subsoil plough to catch running water more completely. 



8) Introducing ploughed fallow for accumulation more humidity in 

 the soil. 



9) Using implements for spring tillage which do not turn over the 

 upper layer. 



10) Early promotion of spring sowing in order that plants should 

 reap greater benefit from the humidity accumulated during winter and 

 give shade to the soil more quickly. 



11) A perfect system of sowing and unremitting attention to plants 

 during growth. 



12) Suitable selection of cultivated plants, species and seed and a 

 corresponding suitability of cultures. 



13) Improving of productiveness of fallow-land and. 



14) Looking out for lands lowly situated where there is a supply of 

 ground water for cultivating lucern, esparcet and rhizocarps. 



All the above measures may be arranged in the following main 

 groups : 



1) The adoption of mechanical tillage of the soil. 



2) Improving the properties of the soil by chemical means. 



3) Capillary raising of ground — water to the roots of cultiva- 

 ted plants. 



4) Accumulating water in the soil by means of open ditches. 



5) Selecting cultivated plants which are proof against drought. 



6) Local steppe forestry. 



I dwell upon the details of A. Shishkins work because most of 

 the later writers give preference to this method of contending against 

 drought. 



Thus, P. I. Kostichew points out as a measure of fighting against 

 drought, that during autumnal ploughing in order to accumulate autumn 

 and winter reserve water in the soil, thus „for the protection of plants 

 against drought it is necessary to bring the soil into such a condition 

 that it is able to preserve better and hold more water out of a usual 



