WHEAT 55 



there is apt to be a waste of the soluble plant food 

 elements by wind and drainage. On account of 

 these facts summer tillage should not be generally 

 practiced except in regions of very light rainfall 

 and in the western plains region, which is sub- 

 ject to very strong winds, only in the heavier 

 soils or more protected locations. 



The listing method of summer fallowing has 

 not yet been tested in comparative trials at the 

 experiment stations, but wherever there is danger 

 of damage by soil drifting, the listing method, 

 as described above, should be preferred to plow- 

 ing and harrowing. 



TO PREVENT SOIL DRIFTING 



How to prevent soil drifting has become a very 

 serious problem to the western farmer during the 

 last few years. The breaking of the prairie sod, 

 the pulverizing of the soil by tillage, the dry 

 seasons, and continuous cropping have made the 

 surface soil finer and looser, which conditions 

 favor soil blowing in the heavy winds which are 

 characteristic of the western plains. 



The rotation of crops and seeding a part of the 

 land again to grass, together with the planting 

 of shelter belts and wind breaks, will be some of the 

 permanent means employed to solve this problem. 

 Meanwhile it is possible to temporarily prevent 

 soil drifting by practicing proper culture methods 

 and by protecting the surface with a dressing of 

 straw or manure pressed into the soil with a 

 packer or a disk harrow. 



