162 DRY-FARMING 



often a disadvantage on dry-farms, which by cul- 

 tural treatment have been made to contain a large 

 store of moisture. It has been shown re])eatedly 

 that light rains draw moisture very quickly from 

 soil layers many feet below the surface. The rain- 

 less summer is not feared by the dry-farmer whose 

 soils are fertile and rich in moistiu-e. It is im]3era- 

 tive that at the very earliest moment after a spring 

 or summer rain the topsoil be well stirred to prevent 

 evaporation. It thus happens that in sections of 

 frequent summer rains, as in the Great Plains area, 

 the farmer has to harrow liis land many times in 

 succession, but the increased crop yields invariably 

 justify the added expenditure of effort. 



Thirdly, on the summer-fallowed ground weeds 

 start vigorously in the s]3ring and draw upon the soil- 

 moisture, if allowed to grow, full}' as heavily as a crop 

 of wheat or corn. The dr3"-farmer must not allow 

 a weed u]3on his land. Cultivation must be so con- 

 tinuous as to make weeds an im|X)ssibility. The 

 behef that the elements added to the soil bj' weeds 

 offset the loss of soil-moisture is wholly erroneous. 

 The growth of weeds on a fallow dry-fai-m is more 

 dangerous than the packed uncared-for topsoil. 

 Many implements have been devised for the easy 

 kilHng of weeds, but none appear to be better than 

 the plow and the disk which are found on every farm. 

 (See Chapter XV.) 



When crops are growing on the land, thorough 



