506 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



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 

 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. 



Fallows that have been ploughed for the first time after the first of July, and 

 especially after July 15, have never given good results ; and the plan too frequently 

 followed of waiting till weeds are full grown, and often ripe, and ploughed under 

 with the idea of enriching the soil, is a method that cannot be too earnestly advised 

 against. 



In the first place, after the rains are over in June or early in July, as they usually 

 are, no amount of work, whether deep or shallow ploughing, or surface cultivation, 

 can put moisture in the soil. The rain must fall on the first ploughing and be con- 

 served by surface cultivation. 



Weeds, when allowed to attain their full growth, take from the soil all the mois- 

 ture put there by the June rains, and ploughing under weeds with their seeds ripe or 

 nearly so, is adding a thousand-fold to the myriads already in the soil, and does not 

 materially enrich the land. 



BREAKING AND BACK-SETTING. 



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 

 is more or less scrubby. 



SHALLOW BREAKING. 



(To be back-set). 



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 rot- 

 ting process and permit back-setting to commence early in August. 



BACK-SETTING. 



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 plo lghing should 

 be done in the same direction as the breaking and the same width of farrow turned. 

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

 give better results. 



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

 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 



