CHAPTER V 
DRY-FARM SOILS 
Important as is the rainfall in making dry-farming 
successful, it is not more so than the soils of the dry- 
farms. On a shallow soil, or on one penetrated with 
gravel streaks, crop failures are probable even under 
a large rainfall; but a deep soil of uniform texture, 
unbroken by gravel or hardpan, in which much water 
may be stored, and which furnishes also an abun- 
dance of feeding space for the roots, will yield large 
crops even under a very small rainfall. Likewise, an 
infertile soil, though it be deep, and under a large 
precipitation, cannot be depended on for good crops; 
but a fertile soil, though not quite so deep, nor under 
so large a rainfall, will almost invariably bring large 
crops to maturity. 
A correct understanding of the soil, from the sur- 
face to a depth of ten feet, is almost indispensable 
before a safe judgment can be pronounced upon the 
full dry-farm possibilities of a district. Especially is it 
necessary to know (a) the depth, (b) the uniformity 
of structure, and (c) the relative fertility of the 
soil, in order to plan an intelligent system of farming 
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