The term “dry-farming” is, of course, a misnomer.  In reality it is farming under drier conditions than those prevailing in the countries in which scientific agriculture originated.  Many suggestions for a better name have been made.  “Scientific agriculture” has-been proposed, but all agriculture should be scientific, and agriculture without irrigation in an arid country has no right to lay sole claim to so general a title.  “Dry-land agriculture,” which has also been suggested, is no improvement over “dry-farming,” as it is longer and also carries with it the idea of dryness.  Instead of the name “dry-farming” it would, perhaps, be better to use the names, “arid-farming.” “semiarid-farming,” “humid-farming,” and “irrigation-farming,” according to the climatic conditions prevailing in various parts of the world.  However, at the present time the name “dry-farming” is in such general use that it would seem unwise to suggest any change.  It should be used with the distinct understanding that as far as the word “dry” is concerned it is a misnomer.  When the two words are hyphenated, however, a compound technical term—­“dry-farming”—­is secured which has a meaning of its own, such as we have just defined it to be; and “dry-farming,” therefore, becomes an addition to the lexicon.

Dry-versus humid-farming

Dry-farming, as a distinct branch of agriculture, has for its purpose the reclamation, for the use of man, of the vast unirrigable “desert” or “semi-desert” areas of the world, which until recently were considered hopelessly barren.  The great underlying principles of agriculture are the same the world over, yet the emphasis to be placed on the different agricultural theories and practices must be shifted in accordance with regional conditions.  The agricultural problem of first importance in humid regions is the maintenance of soil fertility; and since modern agriculture was developed almost wholly under humid conditions, the system of scientific agriculture has for its central idea the maintenance of soil fertility.  In arid regions, on the other hand, the conservation of the natural water precipitation for crop production is the important problem; and a new system of agriculture must therefore be constructed, on the basis of the old principles, but with the conservation of the natural precipitation as the central idea.  The system of dry-farming must marshal and organize all the established facts of science for the better utilization, in plant growth, of a limited rainfall.  The excellent teachings of humid agriculture respecting the maintenance of soil fertility will be of high value in the development of dry-farming, and the firm establishment of right methods of conserving and using the natural precipitation will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect upon the practice of humid agriculture.

The problems of dry-farming

The dry-farmer, at the outset, should know with comparative accuracy the annual rainfall over the area that he intends to cultivate.  He must also have a good acquaintance with the nature of the soil, not only as regards its plant-food content, but as to its power to receive and retain the water from rain and snow.  In fact, a knowledge of the soil is indispensable in successful dry-farming.  Only by such knowledge of the rainfall and the soil is he able to adapt the principles outlined in this volume to his special needs.