WHEAT 49 



ADVANTAGE OF LISTING METHOD 



In a dry climate this method of preparing the 

 seed bed for wheat has several advantages. The 

 cultivation of the land soon after harvest tends 

 to conserve the moisture already in the soil, 

 the furrows catch and store the rain and the later 

 cultivation clears the land of weeds and volunteer 

 wheat and leaves a mellow soil mulch to conserve 

 the moisture which has been stored in the subsoil. 

 The early and continuous cultivation of the soil 

 favors the action of the soil bacteria and the 

 development of available plant food. Also, 

 because of the furrowed surface, a larger volume 

 of soil is exposed to the action of bacteria. 



By pursuing this method the farmer may cul- 

 tivate a larger area when the soil is in good con- 

 dition to cultivate, since listing is done more 

 rapidly than plowing. Soil which is opened out 

 in listed furrows is in the best possible condition 

 to catch and store the rain, which as it falls soon 

 reaches the bottom of the furrow and is rapidly 

 absorbed directly into the subsoil without having 

 to pass through six or eight inches of finely 

 pulverized compact surface soil. Also the ridges 

 may be cultivated soon after a heavy rain, thus 

 covering the wet furrows with mellow soil and 

 "sealing" the reservoir and preventing the escape 

 of the stored moisture. 



SUMMER TILLING 



The listing method is also adapted to summer 

 fallowing (summer tilling), the plan being to keep 

 the surface furrowed and in a mellow condition 



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