CHAPTER 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 follow from this condition that dry-farming is less profitable than humid-or irrigation-farming, for it has been fully demonstrated that the profit on the investment 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 increased.  The discovery of any condition which will offset the small annual yields is, therefore, of the highest importance to the advancement of dry-farming.  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, clothing, and shelter has become more clearly understood, more attention has been given to the valuation of commercial products on the basis of quality as well as of quantity.  Sugar beets, for instance, are bought by the sugar factories under a guarantee of a minimum sugar content; and many factories of Europe vary the price paid according to the sugar contained by the beets.  The millers, especially in certain parts of the country where wheat has deteriorated, distinguish carefully between the flour-producing qualities of wheats from various sections and fix the price accordingly.  Even in the household, information concerning the real nutritive value of various foods is being sought eagerly, and foods let down to possess the highest value in the maintenance of life are displacing, even at a higher cost, the inferior products.  The quality valuation is, in fact, being extended as rapidly as the growth of knowledge will permit to the chief food materials of commerce.  As this practice becomes fixed the dry-farmer will be able to command the best market prices for his products, for it is undoubtedly true that from the point of view of quality, dry-farm food products may be placed safely in competition with any farm products on the markets of the world.

Proportion of plant parts

It need hardly be said, after the discussions in the preceding chapters, that the nature of plant growth is deeply modified by the arid conditions prevailing in dry-farming.  This shows itself first in the proportion of the various plant parts, such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds.  The root systems of dry-farm crops are generally greatly developed, and it is a common observation that in adverse seasons