rKEI'ORT OF MR. AXGUS MACK AT 417 



SESSIONAL PAPER N'o. 16 



what was said in my last two reports respecting summer-fallows, and breaking np and 

 cultivating new prairie laud. 



Tt is very gratifying to know that throughout the Territories, summer-fallowing 

 is rapidly becoming general. No matter where farming is carried on, the farmers 

 realize that to be sure of a crop they must prepare a portion of their land the year 

 before the crop is grown, and apart from the value of the stored moisture, there is the 

 inestimable advantage of keeping weeds from overrunning the farm. 



The true worth of properly prepared fallows has been ck-arly demonstrated iu past 

 j-ears in every grain -growing district of Assiniboia. 



The work of preparing land for crop by fallowing is carried on in so many ways in 

 different parts of the Territories, that perhaps a few words on some of the methods em- 

 ployed may be of help to at least some of the new settlers. 



It has been observed in Alberta and Saskatchewan that the land to be fallowed is 

 not, as a rule, touched until the weeds are full grown and in many cases, bearing fully 

 matured seed. It is then ploughed. 



By this method, which, no doubt, saves work at the time, the very object of a sum- 

 m.er- fallow is defeated. In the first place, moisture is not conserved because the land 

 has been pumped dry by the heavy growth of weeds; and, secondly, instead of using 

 the summer-fallow as a means of eradicating w^eeds, a foundation is laid for years of 

 labour and expense by the myriads of foul seeds turned under. 



The endless fields of yellow-flowered weeds, generally Ball Mustard (Neslia pani- 

 culata), testify to the indiiferent work done in many districts, and while no weed is 

 more easily eradicated by a good system of fallows, there is no weed that is more easily 

 propagated or takes greater advantage of poor work on fallows or of fall or spring 

 cultivation. 



As has been pointed out in my previous reports, early and thorough work on fal- 

 lows is absolutely necessary to success, and I here repeat the methods and results of 

 tests carried on for some years past. 



First Method. — Ploughed deep (6 to 8 inches) before last of June; surface culti- 

 vated during the growing season, and just before or immediately after harvest ploughed 

 5 or 6 inches deep. 



Hesult. — Too much late growth if season w-as at all wet ; grain late in ripening, 

 and a large crop of weeds if the grain was in any way injured by winds. 



Second Method. — Ploughed shallow (3 inches deep) before the last of June ; sur- 

 face cultivated during the growing season, and ploughed shallow (3 to 4 inches deep) in 

 the autumn. 



Result. — Poor crop in a dry year; medium crop in a wet year. Not sufficiently 

 stirred to enable soil to retain the moisture. 



Third Method. — Ploughed shallow (3 inches) before the last of June; surface cul- 

 tivated during the growing season, and ploughed deep (7 to 8 inche?) in the autumn. 



TIesult. — Soil too loose and does not retain moisture. Crop light and weedy in a 

 dry year. 



b'ourth Method. — Ploughed deep (7 to 8 inches) before the last of June ; surface 

 cultivated during the growing season. 



Jksult. — Sufficient moisture conserved for a dry year, and not too much for a wet 

 one. Few or no weeds, as all the seeds near the surface have germinated and been 

 killed. Surface soil apt to blow more readily than when either of the other methods is 

 followed. For the past fourteen years, the best, safest and cleanest grain has been 

 grown on fallow worked in this way, and the method is therefore recommended. 



16—27 



