REPORT OF MR. ANGUS MACKAY 363 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



METHODS OF PREPAEI^^G NEW GROUND. 



In view of the fact that every year brings to the Territories many new settlers, 

 who are unacquainted with the methods of breaking up and preparing new land for 

 crop, a few suggestions with regard to this very important work may not be amiss. 



In all sections where the sod is thick and tough, breaking and back-setting should 

 be done; while in districts where scrub abounds and the sod is thin, deep breaking is 

 all that is necessary. 



The former is generally applicable to Assiniboia, and the latter to Alberta and 

 Saskatchewan, especially to the northern parts of these Territories where the land ia 

 more or less .scrubby. 



SHALLOW-BREAKING AND BACK-SETTING. 



The sod should be turned over as thin as possible, and for this purpose a walking 

 plough with a 12 or 14-inch share, is the best. When the breaking is completed (which 

 should not be later than the second week in July), rolling will hasten the rotting pro- 

 cess and permit back-setting to commence early in August. 



Back-setting is merely turning the sod back to its original place, and at the same 

 time bringing up two or three inches of fresh soil to cover it. The ploughing should 

 bo done in the same direction as the breaking and the same width of furrow turned. 

 Two inches below the breaking is considered deep enough, but three to four inches will 

 give better results. 



After back-setting, the soil cannot be made too fine, and the use of disc or Kandall 

 harrow to cut up every piece of unrotted sod, will complete the work. 



DEEP BREAKING. 



Deep breaking, which in many sections of the country is the only practicable way 

 of preparing new land, and which is, unfortunately, done in some instances where 

 breaking and back-setting would give more satisfactory results, consists in the turning 

 over of the sod as deeply as possible, usually from four to five inches. 



When the sod has rotted, the top soil should be worked and made as fine as possible. 

 The use of harrow and disc will fill up all irregularities on the surface, and make a fine, 

 even seed-bed. 



Whether the land is broken shallow or deep, it is necessary to have the work com- 

 pleted early, so as to take advantage of the rains which usually come during June or 

 early in July. These rains cause the sod to rot, and without them, or if the ploughing 

 is done after they are over, the sod remains in the same condition as when turned, and 

 no amount of work will make up for the loss. 



To some districts near the foot-hills of the mountains and in districts where scrub 

 abounds and the sod is thin, these remarks may not apply; but as a rule, throughout 

 the Territories, early breaking, whether deep or shallow, is advisable. 



WORKING LAND AFTER FIRST CROP. 



Inquiries are often made as to what should be done after taking off the first crop 

 on new land, the question being as to whether the land should be ploughed, or culti- 

 vated, or sown without any cultivation whatever. 



This, however, can only be determined by circumstances. In districts with heavy 

 clay soil, a satisfactory crop may be expected from burning the stubble of the former 

 crop and sowing with or without cultivation, although a shallow cultivation Sfter the 

 Btubble is burnt usually gives the best results. 



