CHy^PTER XIII 



THE COMPOSITION OF DRY-FARM CROPS 



The acre-yields of crops on dry-farms, even under 

 the most favorable methods of culture, are likely to be 

 much smaller than in humid sections with fertile soils. 

 The necessity for frequent fallowing or resting periods 

 over a large portion of the dry-farm territory further 

 decreases the average annual yield. It does not fol- 

 low from this condition that dry-farming is less prof- 

 itable than humid- or irrigation-farming, for it has 

 been fully demonstrated that the profit on the invest- 

 ment is as high under proper dry-farming as under 

 any other similar generally adopted system of farming 

 in any part of the world. Yet the practice of dry- 

 farming would appear to be, and indeed would be, 

 much more desirable could the crop yield be in- 

 creased. The discovery of any condition which will 

 offset the small annual yields is, therefore, of the 

 highest importance to the advancement of dry-farm- 

 ing. The recognition of the superior quality of 

 practically all crops grown without irrigation under 

 a limited rainfall has done much to stimulate faith 

 in the great profitableness of dry-farming. As the 

 varying nature of the materials used by man for food, 

 s 257 



