DRY-FARMII^a 



CHAPTER I 



Introduction 



dry-farming defined 



Dry-farming, as at present understood, is the 

 profitable production of useful crops, without irriga- 

 tion, on lands that receive annually a rainfall of 

 20 inches or less. In districts of torrential rains, 

 high winds, unfavorable distribution of the rain- 

 fall, or other water-dissipating factors, the term 

 " dry-farming " is also properly applied to farming 

 without irrigation under an annual precipitation of 

 25 or even 30 inches. There is no sharp de- 

 markation between dry- and humid-farming. 



When the annual precipitation is under 20 

 inches, the methods of dry-farming, are usually 

 indispensable. When it is over 30 inches, the 

 methods of humid-farming are employed; in places 

 where the annual precipitation is between 20 and 

 30 inches, the methods to be used depend chiefly 

 on local conditions affecting the conservation of 

 soil moisture. Dry-farming, however, always im- 



