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Volumes have been written upon the 
subject. Professor W. C. Palmer, of 
North Dakota, has produced what he calls 
the “Ten Commandments of Dry Farm- 
ing.” They are given here as he has 
written them, because they seem to con- 
dense into very small space nearly all 
the information that we have ever seen 
on that subject: 
I. Thou Shalt Plow Deen. 
Lets rain get into soil easily. 
Lets in big rain without run off. 
Provides more feeding space for 
plant roots. 
More plant food made available. 
II. Thou Shalt Keep the Surface Soil 
Loose. 
Keeps soil moisture from evapor- 
ating. 
Lets rain get into soil easily. 
More plant food made available, 
due to more moisture, 
Harrow the grain after it is up two 
inches or use weeder. 
III. Thou Shalt Cultivate Level. 
Level soil has the least soil exposed 
to the air. 
More evaporation from a ridged 
soil. 
Level soil will take in rainfall 
much faster than ridged soil. 
On ridged soil the rain runs off 
through furrows. 
The soil in the ridges dries out so 
that the plant has less moist sur- 
face soil to draw on for food and 
moisture. 
Ridging the soil is a most effective 
way for getting rid of both the 
moisture in the soil and of rain- 
fall. 
IV. Thou Shalt Summer Fallow When 
the Rainfall Is Less Than Fifteen 
Inches. 
The summer fallow saves up two 
years’ rain for one crop. 
The summer fallow kills weeds 
and plant diseases. 
The summer fallow should be cul- 
tivated 
When rainfall is over 15 inches 
corn will be as good a prepara- 
tion for a crop as the bare fal- 
low. 
V. Thou Shalt Add Organic Matter to 
the Soil. 
Holds moisture and plant food. 
Improves mechanical condition for 
the soil. 
Helps make plant food available. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
Lessens drifting and blowing of the 
soil. 
Lessens washing of the soil. 
Stable manure is the best form. 
Plow weeds under when green, 
VI. Thou Shalt Keep Down the Weeds. 
Weeds use up moisture. 
Weeds use up plant food. 
Weeds crowd the plants. 
Weeds shade the crops. 
Weeds make it difficult for the 
plants to grow. 
Weeds make it hard to work the 
land properly. 
VII. Thou Shalit Grow Harly Maturing 
Crops. 
Growing conditions best in early 
summer. 
Winter grains better than spring 
grains. 
VIII. Thou Shalt Grow Corn Hvery 
Three to Five Years. 
The cultivation given corn saves 
moisture. 
The cultivation given corn kills 
weeds. 
The cultivation given corn kills 
plant diseases. 
Corn best preparation for a grain 
crop. 
Corn produces fine stock food, both 
grain and fodder. 
Corn produces more per acre than 
other crops. 
Do not hill up the corn, as this 
wastes the moisture. 
IX. Thou Shalt Grow Clover or Alfalfa 
Hvery Few Years. 
Clover and alfalfa add fertility to 
the soil. 
Clover and alfalfa add organic mat- 
ter to the soil. 
Clover and alfalfa kill weeds and 
plant diseases. 
Clover and alfalfa produce a most 
valuable hay. 
Clover and alfalfa produce very 
valuable seed crops. . 
X, Thou Shalt Keep Stock. 
The most profitable way of mar- 
keting grain and fodder is 
through stock. 
They produce manure, which is 
very necessary to the soil. 
They bring about prosperity. 
Seme Misconceptions Concerning Dry 
Farming 
“The following misconceptions concern- 
ing dry farming may be mentioned as 
among the most serious: (1) That any 
