CEREAL CULTIVATION WESTERN AREA 403 



weeks later, in the same order in which it was disked. 

 Afterward there is sufficient cultivation to subdue weeds. 

 429. Fall tillage. Because of the dry summers in 

 the Western area, fall plowing, whether for spring seeding 

 or summer tillage, should usually be preceded by disking. 

 The latter is done at once after harvest to a depth of 3 or 

 4 inches. This creates a mulch for conservation of mois- 

 ture, causing easier plowing later, and also cuts up and 



FIG. 131. The right lap cut-away disk harrow. 



mixes with the surface soil the remaining stubble and 

 straw. The cut-away disk harrow is particularly good, 

 because of its efficiency in cutting the straw and stubble 

 (Fig. 96). Double-disking is advisable, if the ground is 

 hard, or there is much stubble or straw. Later in the fall 

 the disked stubble ground is plowed 6 to 8 inches deep. 

 In the drier sections, fall listing may be substituted for 

 fall plowing. This is preceded by disking as in the case 

 of plowing. Listing should be done at right angles to 



