220 DRY-FARMING 



draw freely upon the stored soil-moisture. This 

 method makes fall germination sure in districts 

 where the natural precipitation is not to be depended 

 upon. 



When sowing is done in the spring, there are few 

 factors to consider. Whenever the temperature is 

 right and the soil has dried out sufficiently so that 

 agricultural implements may be used properly, it is 

 usually safe to begin sowing. The customs which 

 prevail generally with regard to the time of spring 

 sowing may be adopted in dry-farm j^ractices also. 



Depth of seeding 



The depth to which seed should be planted in the 

 soil is of importance in a system of dry-farming. 

 The reserve materials in seeds are used to produce 

 the first roots and the young plants. No new nutri- 

 ment beyond that stored in the soil can be obtained 

 by the plant until the leaves are above the ground, 

 able to gather carbon from the atmosphere. The 

 danger of deep planting lies, therefore, in exhausting 

 the reserve materials of the seeds before the plant 

 has been able to push its leaves alcove the ground. 

 Should this occur, the plant will probably die in the 

 soil. On the other hand, if the seed is not planted 

 deeply enough, it may happen that the roots cannot 

 be sent down far enough to connect with the soil- 

 water reservoir below. Then, the root system will 



