WHEAT 



119 



*Decrease. 



The negative results during the first two 

 periods are more than off -set by the positive in- 

 crease in yields in the last two periods. It should 

 be remembered also that this North Dakota 

 soil (the typical Red River Valley wheat lands) 

 is far richer in organic matter than the average 

 soil of the Western Plains. 



DANGER OF GREEN MANURING 



The danger from green manuing is that the 

 seed bed will be left too loose the first year with 

 a tendency to dry out and injure the crop. Also, 

 the wheat is apt to produce too rank a growth of 

 straw, the first crop after green manuring. These 

 objections may be in part overcome by early 

 plowing, subsurface packing and frequent surface 

 cultivation in order to hasten the decay of the 

 organic matter, conserve the soil moisture and 

 secure a firm, well pulverized condition of the 

 seed bed. 



If this method of green manuring can be gen- 

 erally adopted, it will solve the problem for a long 

 time at least of keeping up the supply of organic 

 matter and maintaining the productiveness of 

 our western wheat lands. 



