92 DRY-FARMING 



Now, it is to be observed that, generally, plants 

 grown in dry climates send their roots straight down 

 into the soil ; whereas in humid climates, where the 

 topsoil is quite moist and the subsoil is hard, roots 

 branch out laterally and fill the upper foot or two 

 of the soil. This difference is made clear by the 

 illustrations herewith produced (Fig. 26). A great 

 deal has been said and written about the danger of 

 deep cultivation, because it tends to injure the roots 

 that feed near the surface. However true this may 

 be in humid countries, it is not vital in the districts 

 primarily interested in dry-farming ; and it is doubt- 

 ful if the objection is as valid in humid countries as 

 is often declared. True, deep cultivation, especially 

 when performed near the plant or tree, destroys 

 the surface-feeding roots, but this only tends to com- 

 pel the deeper lying roots to make better use of the 

 subsoil. 



^Vllen, as in arid regions, the subsoil is fertile and 

 furnishes a sufficient amount of water, destroying 

 the surface roots is no handicap whatever. On the 

 contrary, in times of drouth, the deep-lying roots 

 feed and drink at their leisure far from the hot sun 

 or withering winds, and the plants survive and arrive 

 at rich maturity, while the plants with shallow roots 

 wither and die or are so seriously injured as to pro- 

 duce an inferior crop. Therefore, in the system of 

 dry-farming as developed in this volume, it must be 

 understood that so far as the farmer has power, 



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