218 DRY-FARMING 
Errect oF REPEATED DRYING ON PERCENTAGE OF 
GERMINATION 
| SevenrH 
_|T a 
eee | aan | mao GreMina- 
Wheat... 75 57 25 1 
Barley . . . 85 74 33 4 
Oats . . . 90 77 40 8 
Corn... 98 66 3 0 
Peas ... 87 3 0 0 
In these experiments wheat and other seeds were 
allowed to germinate and dry seven times in succes- 
sion. With each partial germination the percentage of 
total germination decreased until at the seventh ger- 
mination only a few seeds of wheat, barley, and oats 
retained their power. This, however, is practically 
the condition in dry-farm districts with rainless 
summers and falls, where fall seeding is practiced. 
In such localities little dependence should be placed 
on the fall rains and greater reliance placed on a 
method of soil treatment that will insure good ger- 
mination. For this purpose the summer fallow has 
been demonstrated to be the most desirable practice. 
If the soil has been treated according to the prin- 
ciples laid down in earlier chapters, the fallowed land 
will, in the fall, contain a sufficient amount of mois- 
ture to produce complete germination though no 
rains may fall. Under such conditions the main 
consideration is to plant the seed so deep that it may 
