VII. Measures for contending against drought. 



Having become more acquainted with the primary causes of 

 drougt, we can with greater facility decide upon the means of contending 

 with it, because in doing so, quite definite aims must be put forward. The 

 first and most important aim is to increase the upper periodically hu- 

 mid soil layer. Tnis may be attained by the accumulation of water, 

 careful nursing of that already accumulated, and an economical outlay of it. 



The only water that can accumulate in the soil is that which en- 

 ters ,t from the atmosphere. Consequently the farmer should see to it 

 that all the water falling on the field is absorbed by the soil and that 

 none of it from any reason whatever, runs off the surface; and that it 

 percolates into the superficial layer as quickly as possible. A spongy 

 ploughed surface on the field fully favours these conditions, and the fur- 

 rows should run across the declivities, if there are any. 



Attention to the accumulate of water should be given immediately 

 after the crop in got in. The thing is that in July after reaping finishes 

 there is heavy rain for a more cr less short time all over the southern 

 steppe governments in certain years the most copious of all the spring 

 and summer rainfalls. If the iield is scaled after reaping, even to the 

 small depth cf 3 or 5 inches, all the water will be absorbed by the soil 

 and will serve as a pledge for the futur crop. 



On unploughed fields a considerable part runs off the slopes, and 

 is lost. Our farmers treat this summer rain with criminal carelessness. 

 It appears to them neither beneficial nor welcome, as it interferies with 

 the threathing of the corn. 



Nevertheless there falls (on the Odessa experiment field), on an 

 average for twelve years, about 45 m. m. If about 30"() of th's is lost 

 through evaporation, as we mentioned above, still, for all that, about 30 

 m. m. may be held by the soil for the future crop, or, reckoning 1' ■_> 

 poods to each millimetre, an addition of 45 poods will be guaranteed to 

 the crop, giving about 15 poods of grain. This calculation must however 

 be regarded as underestimated because the water which enters in the 

 soil, will increase the change of mineral matter into a dissolved condition 



