458 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



to conserve the moisture leaves the soil in such a condition that it is 

 easily carried away by the wind. 



When heavy rains occur in the late summer and early autumn 

 months, it may be found advisable to increase the winter-wheat 

 acreage by seeding on corn ground or on early fall plowing. The 

 former is probably preferable. In either case there should be suf- 

 ficient moisture in the soil to keep the crop in good condition until 

 spring. Otherwise, the plants may die or go into the winter in a 

 weakened condition. 



A good summer fallow consists essentially in early plowing and 

 sufficient cultivation afterwards to conserve the moisture. A good 

 plan is to plow in the spring as soon as possible after seeding, or 

 earlier if desired. The ground may then be worked at once with 

 disk and harrow, or it may be allowed to remain as left by the plow 

 in the expectation of heavy rains in May and June. The method 

 to be followed depends upon the quantity of moisture in the soil at 

 the time of plowing. In either case cultivation should follow every 

 rain sufficiently heavy to connect with the moisture below or to 

 supply more moisture to the soil than will be lost by the cultivation. 

 A practice sometimes advocated is that of plowing in the fall soon 

 after the crop is removed and allowing the ground to remain rough 

 until spring, when it is cultivated as in the former case. 



Seeding. The growing of varieties not adapted to the locality 

 is a great drawback to the success of a crop. This fact has been 

 clearly demonstrated by experiments conducted on the Great Plains 

 and by the experience of farmers. The Turkey and Kharkof va- 

 rieties have great ability to recover after a hard winter. When 

 damaged, good judgment should be exercised before reseeding to 

 spring grain. 



If a good seed bed is prepared and there is sufficient moisture 

 present to germinate the grain and keep it growing vigorously, 

 early seeding is advisable, as the temperature at an earlier date is 

 likely to be more favorable to germination and rapid growth. It is 

 not advisable, however, to seed on poorly prepared soil simply for 

 the sake of seeding early, when a few days' delay would permit the 

 preparation of a good seed bed. On the other hand, it is not well to 

 put off seeding until very late, as there is grave danger that the seed 

 will never come up. It is essential that the^seed be placed in close 

 contact with soil containing moisture. To insure this it is best to 

 seed with a drill, as by so doing the seed can be placed at the desired 

 depth and the soil packed around it. By drilling, a more uniform 

 stand is obtained and a smaller quantity of seed is required than by 

 seeding broadcast. 



The exceptional stooling of winter wheat makes it unnecessary 

 and inadvisable to seed this grain as heavily as spring wheat. The 

 usual rate recommended for semiarid conditions is about 3 pecks 

 per acre, a less quantity sometimes being advocated. With a well- 

 prepared seed bed this amount is probably sufficient for western 

 South Dakota conditions. Unless damaged by winterkilling or 

 other causes, winter wheat is more likely to be too thick than too 



