60 Progressive Agriculture 



purpose to discuss the question of later planting 

 for better results but rather of prolonging the 

 period of preparation sufficiently to obtain a much 

 more ideal soil condition, for not only storing in 

 close proximity to the feeding zone of the plant 

 roots a greater supply of moisture and plant food, 

 but to get the benefit of the warm weather in 

 bringing about a more favorable condition for 

 rapid development of rootlets and their feeders, 

 and at the same time having a soil condition that 

 will provide additional plant food to keep up the 

 supply as the plants begin to reach up with a 

 more rapid growth. 



In the development of this kind of work or what 

 we term Spring Tillage, there is one great advant- 

 age we are seeking, and that is to bridge over 

 seasons of light rainfall, also the hot drouthy 

 periods that so commonly play havoc with our 

 crops the later part of June through July, and 

 early August in all semi-humid sections. 



For a time it seemed that for sections of lighter 

 rainfall summer tillage was the solution, and in 

 the production of fall planted crops, it has proved 

 remarkably successful where the work was cor- 

 rectly done, and we know there is much more merit 

 to summer tillage than has been commonly brought 

 out. The difficulties militating against its success 

 are two; first, a lack of full and thorough under- 

 standing of the principles and the observation of 

 every detail; second, lack of adequate tools for 

 handling the land more especially after the land 

 has been plowed and sub-packed, to then com- 

 pletely keep out all weeds without destroying the 

 seed bed by too deep cultivation. 



