HARROWING WHEAT 141 



the general practice is to sow wheat as early in the spring as 

 a good seed bed can be prepared. When wheat is sown early, 

 the cool weather of spring causes the development of a heavy 

 root system and induces stooling; while, if it is seeded late, 

 the stems shoot up so quickly that there is little chance for 

 stoohng. Other reasons for early seeding are to avoid as 



Figure 55. — Plowing, seeding, and harrowing at one operation. .A .common 

 method of sowing wheat on the large wheat farms of the Western states. 



much as possil^le the ravages of diseases and insects and to 

 avoid the damage of storms, which are usually more severe 

 in the latter part of the growing season. 



181. Harrowing. Harrowing grain after it is up is not a 

 common practice, though it sometimes gives very good 

 results. Spring wheat is sometimes harrowed after it is up, 

 especiallj^ if there is a tendency for a crust to form on top of 

 the soil. Harrowing breaks up this crust by forming a slight 

 dust mulch, w^hich aids in checking the evaporation of mois- 

 ture and also aids in destroying weeds. Some of the grain is 

 injured by this practice, which fact no doubt is the reason 

 why the practice is so uncommon. Drilled wheat only 

 should be harrowed and the harrow should be run in the 

 direction of the drill rows and not across them. Of course 

 the grain should be well rooted before it is harrowed. 



