362 



THE SMALL GRAINS 



States. Many farmers report that packing prevents soil- 

 blowing. 



390. Methods of summer tillage. Mackay (vide 

 Grisdale, 1913, p. 15) gives the following as the best 

 method of handling the summer fallow in southern Sas- 

 katchewan : " Deep plowing (7-8 inches) before the last 

 of June ; surface cultivated during the growing season ; 

 results in sufficient moisture for a dry year, and not too 



FIG. 113. Subsurface packer. 



much for a wet year; 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 other methods 

 are followed; for the past 14 years the best, safest, and 

 cleanest grain has been grown on fallow worked in this 

 way." Plowing for summer tillage in the North should 

 always be done in the spring. Usually packing the soil 

 after plowing for summer tillage is not needed, as the long 

 time before seeding allows the soil to become packed. 



