DRY-LAND GRAINS IN THE GREAT BASIN. 31 



(3) 'I'liat llic tlirco principal objects sou«j,lit in liio care of fallow 

 land — moisture cons(u-vation, prevention or eradication of weeds, and 

 preparation of seed bed — are best secured by shallow cultivation of 

 suflicient frequency to maintain the surface of the soil in a fairly loose 

 and well-pulverized state, and that the importance of cultivating at 

 the proper time is paramount. 



(4) That only clean and pure seed of tlie best variety for the locality 

 should be planted. 



(5) That all wheat seed should be treated with a formalin solution 

 to prevent bunt, and that smut balls should be removed from the 

 seed before treatment. 



(()) That both very earh^ and very late planting should be avoided, 

 exjierience at the substation strongly favoring September 20 to Octo- 

 ber 20 as the best time to {)hint winter wheat. 



(7) That si)ring grains should be planted as soon as ])()ssible after 

 the surface soil has become dry enough to be worked without danger 

 of excessive packing or puddling. 



(8) That the most satisfactory rates for seeding so far deter- 

 mined are as follows : Wlieat, 35 to 45 pounds per acre ; winter barley 

 and spring barley, 5 pecks per acre; winter oats, 6 pecks per acre; 

 spring oats, 4 to 5 pecks per acre, the lower rate being favored for the 

 drier localities. 



(9) That the most desirable depth for planting wheat on a well- 

 prepared seed bed is about 3 inches. 



(10) That broadcasting should never be practiced in grain produc- 

 tion; all grain should be drilled. 



(] 1) That it is sometimes advisable to harrow fall-planted grain in 

 the fall to break u]) the surface crust and that this is not often neces- 

 sary except with early planted grain; that spring harrowing is fre- 

 quently advisable, i)articularly on heavy clay soils, and that there is 

 oidinarily no danger of injuring the plants by harrowing at any time 

 before June 1 . 



(12) That the indications so far are against growing wheat continu- 

 ously and in favor of at least alternate fallowing, where wheat is the 

 only crop grown on a field. 



(13) That the test of growing inteftilled crops in place of alternate 

 fallowing has given some results that indicate the ])racticability of 

 substituting potatoes and, possibly, corn. 



MISCELLANEOUS CROP TESTS. 



The experiments with crops other than grains have given some 

 promising results. It has been demonstrated with reasonable cer- 

 tainty that forage crops, particularly alfalfa, can be profitably grown 

 on the dry lands. The results obtained with these crops will now be 

 briefl}" discussed. 



[Cir. 61] 



