In general the rule may be laid down that a little more than one half as much seed should be used in dry-farm districts with an annual rainfall of about fifteen inches than is used in humid districts.  That is, as against the customary five pecks of wheat used per acre in humid countries about three pecks or even two pecks should be used on dry-farms.  Merrill recommends the seeding of oats at the rate of about three pecks per acre; of barley, about three pecks; of rye, two pecks; of alfalfa, six pounds; of corn, two kernels to the hill, and other crops in the same proportion.  No invariable rule can be laid down for perfect germination.  A small quantity of seed is usually sufficient; but where germination frequently fails in part, more seed must be used.  If the stand is too thick at the beginning of the growing season, it must be harrowed out.  Naturally, the quantity of seed to be used should be based on the number of kernels as well as on the weight.  For instance, since the larger the individual wheat kernels the fewer in a bushel, fewer plants would be produced from a bushel of large than from a bushel of small seed wheat.  The size of the seed in determining the amount for sowing is often important and should be determined by some simple method, such as counting the seeds required to fill a small bottle.

Method of sowing

There should really be no need of discussing the method of sowing were it not that even at this day there are farmers in the dry-farm district who sow by broadcasting and insist upon the superiority of this method.  The broadcasting of seed has no place in any system of scientific agriculture, least of all in dry-farming, where success depends upon the degree with which all conditions are controlled.  In all good dry-farm practice seed should be placed in rows, preferably by means of one of the numerous forms of drill seeders found upon the market.  The advantages of the drill are almost self-evident.  It permits uniform distribution of the seed, which is indispensable for success on soils that receive limited rainfall.  The seed may be placed at an even depth, which is very necessary, especially in fall sowing, where the seed depends for proper germination upon the moisture already stored in the soil.  The deep seeding often necessary under dry-farm conditions makes the drill indispensable.  Moreover, Hunt has explained that the drill furrows themselves have definite advantages.  During the winter the furrows catch the snow, and because of the protection thus rendered, the seed is less likely to be heaved out by repeated freezing and thawing.  The drill furrow also protects to a certain extent against the drying action of winds and in that way, though the furrows are small, they aid materially in enabling the young plant to pass through the winter successfully.  The rains of fall and spring are accumulated in the furrows and made easily accessible to plants.  Moreover, many of the drills have attachments whereby the soil is