During the absorption of water, seeds swell considerably, in many cases from two to three times their normal size.  This has the very desirable effect of crowding the seed walls against the soil particles and thus, by establishing more points of contact, enabling the seed to absorb moisture with greater facility.  As seeds begin to absorb water, heat is also produced.  In many cases the temperature surrounding the seeds is increased one degree on the Centigrade scale by the mere process of water absorption.  This favors rapid germination.  Moreover, the fertility of the soil has a direct influence upon germination.  In fertile soils the germination is more rapid and more complete than in infertile soils.  Especially active in favoring direct germination are the nitrates.  When it is recalled that the constant cultivation and well-kept summer fallow of dry-farming develop large quantities of nitrates in the soil, it will be understood that the methods of dry-farming as already outlined accelerate germination very greatly.

It scareely need be said that the soil of the seed-bed should be fine, mellow, and uniform in physical texture so that the seeds can be planted evenly and in close contact with the soil particles.  All the requisite conditions for germination are best met by the conditions prevailing in a well-kept summer fallowed soil.

Time to sow

In the consideration of the time to sow, the first question to be disposed of by the dry-farmer is that of fall as against spring sowing.  The small grains occur as fall and spring varieties, and it is vitally important to determine which season, under dry-farm conditions, is the best for sowing.

The advantages of fall sowing are many.  As stated, successful germination is favored by the presence of an abundance of fertility, especially of nitrates, in the soil.  In summer-fallowed land nitrates are always found in abundance in the fall, ready to stimulate the seed into rapid germination and the young plants into vigorous growth.  During the late fall and winter months the nitrates disappear, at least in part, anti from the point of view of fertility the spring is not so desirable as the fall for germination.  More important, grain sown in the fall under favorable conditions will establish a good root system which is ready for use and in action in the early spring as soon as the temperature is right and long before the farmer can go out on the ground with his implements.  As a result, the crop has the use of the early spring moisture, which under the conditions of spring sowing is evaporated into the air.  Where the natural precipitation is light and the amount of water stored in the soil is not large, the gain resulting from the use of the early spring moisture. often decides the question in favor of fall sowing.