428 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 

 BREAKING PRAIRIE SOD. 



The success or failure of a new settler often depends on the method employed in 

 i lie preparation of the land for his first crop, and it is therefore of the utmost import- 



jce that the question of 'Breaking' or 'Breaking and Backsetting' be given the 



onsideration it deserves. 



For some years pr.st the general practice throughout the country has been to con- 



■nue breaking three or more inches deep so long as the teams can turn over the sod, 

 I hen in the fall to disc the top-soil and grow grain in the spring following. From the 

 breaking so done before the end of J une, a good crop of wheat, oats or barley is usually 

 obtained, but no amount of cultivation will ensure even a fair crop on this land in 

 ■:be next succeeding year. After the first crop has been cut the soil is usually in a 

 perfectly dry state and remains so, in spite of any known method of cultivation, until 

 • he rains come in the spring following. If they are insufficient or late, as is frequently 

 the case, failure of the crop must be the result. 



BREAKING AND BACKSETTING. 



Breaking and backsetting is the true way of laying the foundation for future 

 uccess in the greater number of districts throughout the province, and while this 

 nethod does not permit of as large an acreage being brought under cultivation in the 

 -ear, it does permit of more thorough work, and ensures better results in the long run. 

 The anxiety of nearly all settlers to sow every acre possible, regardless of how or when 

 the work on the land has been accomplished, may be given as the reason for breaking 

 ■nd discing, to a large extent, superseding the older, better and safer plan. 



Breaking and backsetting means the ploughing of the prairie sod as shallow as 

 possible before the June or early July rains are over, and in August or September, 

 •hen the sod will have become thoroughly rotted by the rains and hot sun, ploughing 

 wo or three inches deeper in the same direction and then harrowii g to make a fine 

 nd firm seedbed. From land prepared in this way two good crops of wheat may be 

 expected. The first crop will be heavy and the stubble, if cut high, at harvest time, 

 nil retain sufficient snow to produce the moisture required, even in the driest spring, 

 r o germinate the seed for the next crop. The stubble-land can readily be burned on 

 .". day in the spring with a warm, steady wind and the seed may be sown with or with- 

 out further cultivation. In a case where the grass roots have not been entirely killed 

 by the backsetting, a shallow cultivation before seeding will be found advantageous, 

 out as a rule the harrowing of the land with a drag-harrow after seeding will be 

 sufficient. 



The principal objection to ' breaking and backsetting ' is urged with regard to 

 the backsetting which, no doubt, is heavy work for the teams, but if the discing 

 required to reduce deep-breaking and then the ploughing or other cultivation that must 

 be done in the effort to obtain a second crop, be taken into consideration it must be 

 conceded that in the end ' breaking and backsetting ' is tb'e cheaper and better method. 

 When two crops have been taken from new land it should be summer-fallowed. 



SUMMER-FALLOWS AND SUMMER-FALLOWING. 



Among the many advantages to the credit of the practice of summer-fallowing 

 imay be mentioned: — The conservation of moisture, the eradication of weeds, the 

 preparation of the land for grain-crops at a time when no other work is pressing, the 

 availability of summer-fallowed land for seeding at the earliest possible date in the 

 spring and the minor advantages of having suitable land for the growing of pure 

 c-eed, potatoes, roots and vegetables at the least cost and with the greatest chance for 

 success, and that of being able to secure two crops of grain with little or no further 

 cultivation. 



