164 DRY-FAEMING 



the rows of wheat. It is yet doubtful whether, under 

 average conditions, sucli careful cultivation, at least 

 of grain crops, is justified b}' the returns. Under 

 conditions of high aridity, or where the store of soil- 

 moisture is low, such treatment frecjuently stands 

 between crop success and failure, and it is not un- 

 hkely that methods will be devised which will permit 

 of the cheap and rapid cultivation between the rows 

 of growing wheat. ^leanwhile, the dry-farmer must 

 ah^^ays remember that the margin under which he 

 works is small, and that his success de])ends upon the 

 degree to which he prevents small wastes. 



The conservation of soil-moisture de])ends upon the 

 vigorous, unremitting, continuous stirring of the top- 

 soil. Cultivation ! cultivation ! and more cultiva- 

 tion ! must be the war-cry of the drj'-farmer who 

 battles against the water thieves of an arid climate. 



