REPORT OF MR. AXQUS MAC KIT 429 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



turning over 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 or disc will fill up all irregularities on the surface, and make a fine, 

 even seed-bed. 



' Whether the laud is broken shallow or deep, it is necessary to have the work 

 completed early, so as to take advantage of the rains which usually come in June or 

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

 ing 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.' 



SUMMER-FALLOWS. 



* The true worth, of properly prepared fallows has been clearly demonstrated in 

 past years in every district of Saskatchewan. 



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

 in different parts of the country, that perhaps a few words on some of the methods 

 employed may be of use to at least some of the new settlers. 



' It has been observed in some parts of 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 

 summer-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 weeds, 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 indifferent 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 in 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. 



' Result — Too much late growth if season was 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 

 ttirred 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 inches) in the autumn. 



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

 dry year. 



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

 cultivated during the growing season. 



' Result. — 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 



