FIELD CROPS. 629 



The author briefly summarizes the results of the tillage experiments 

 for the conservation of moisture as follows: 



" Soil moisture is conserved by plowing, which loosens the soil to the depth of 

 several inches; by cultivating between the rows, which keeps loose the upper 2 in. of 

 soil; by mulching, which allows the rain to penetrate the soil but not leave it; and 

 by having the plowed furrow slice cleanly fallow all or part of the year, thus avoid- 

 ing the draft of growing plants on the soil moisture. It is dissipated by growing 

 crops which pump into the air enormous amounts of water; liy weeds which are per- 

 niciously active pumps in proportion to the useless growth they make, and l)y leav- 

 ing the soil compact, allowing capillary water to rise to the surface, there to 

 evaporate. ' ' 



Among- the meadow and pasture crops grown, Bromus inermis is 

 the only new grass whose merits have been proven. The yields 

 obtained from 3U mixtures of pasture plants are tabulated, and several 

 mixtures especially adapted to different soils and for different pur- 

 poses are recommended. 



The number of days of pasture furnished b}^ several annual pasture 

 crops for steers and sheep are also shown. The practice of growing- 

 succulent forage crops for feeding off during the dry midsummer and 

 early spring and late fall is commended. 



The value of the shelter belts of willow hedge at the farm as an aid 

 in growing crops and establishing deciduous trees is considered and a 

 diagram given of the arrangement of the Coteau farm hedges. A 

 four-year-old willow hedge already stands 1.5 ft. high. 



Hm'thvjest eTperiment farm (pp. 652-687). — The northwest experi- 

 ment farm is located in the rich lowlands of the Red River Valle}' on 

 ground t^'pical of that region. Results secured in variet}^ tests with 

 a number of grains, grasses, clovers, and forage crops are recorded, 

 as are also data obtained in seeding grasses and clovers with different 

 nurse crops. 



Minnesota No. 103 and Wellman Fife have given the best average 

 yields with wheat; Minnesota No. 190, Early Gothland, and Black 

 Russian, in the order named, with oats, and Golden Queen, Odessa, 

 and French Chevalier with barlej". Bromus inermib' has proven one 

 of the most promising of the grasses tested. AVith this grass and with 

 manmioth clover, and mixtures of timothy and clover, best results have 

 been obtained when seeded without a nurse crop. Red clover has given 

 the best results when drilled in with barle3\ 



^Wrf/u-ast suhcj'periment fari/i {pp. 688-730). — This farm is located 

 in the pine region of northern Minnesota, and is made up of a number 

 of different soil types, namelj^, poor sandy loam, on which jack or 

 Norway pines grow, light-colored clays, swampy soil of the t3"pe called 

 "Muskeg," and various mixtures. The general work and equipment 

 of the farm is noted, and some results obtained in field tests with grains, 

 forage crops, potatoes, vegetables, and orchard and small fruits are 

 recorded. Thus far Blue Stem wheats have vielded from 2 to 3 bu. 



