WHEAT 45 



important than to maintain a soil mulch, since 

 weeds exhaust both the soil moisture and available 

 plant food. If a proper soil mulch is maintained, 

 however, the weeds will be kept in subjection. 



It is advisable to weight or ride the common 

 harrow in order to cause it to stir the soil to a 

 sufficient depth and prevent the slicking effect 

 which is apt to result from light harrowing. A 

 smooth, finely pulverized surface produced by 

 continuous, light harrowing defeats the purpose 

 of the cultivation, since soil in such a condition 

 will shed heavy rains, causing a waste of the 

 water that should have been stored in the soil. 

 By rendering the surface too fine and compact an 

 unfavorable seed bed is produced and the proper 

 aeration of the soil is prevented. Thus during 

 the interval between crops it is often advisable 

 to use the lister or disk harrow in order to keep 

 the surface of the soil open and mellow. 



CONSERVATION OF SOIL MOISTURE 



In the more humid climates it is often necessary 

 to artificially drain the land in order to keep the 

 soil in proper physical condition and cause it to 

 produce profitable crops, but throughout the 

 great plains region the conservation of the soil 

 moisture is the first and most important problem 

 in successful farming. 



The most essential part of soil moisture con- 

 servation, the most important factor in dry farm- 

 ing and the one which has been most greatly 

 neglected by our western farmers, is getting the 

 rain water into the ground and safely storing it 



