GROWING THE CROP 



209 



work of man and teams is more evenly distributed if winter 

 wheat is grown in the farm rotation. 



Growing the Crop. Wheat prefers heavy soils and then 

 suffers much less from drought than where the soil is light. 

 The field should be plowed several weeks before the seed is sown. 



FIQ. 151. Harvesting grain with modern self-binder. (J. H. Co.) 



This makes the moisture conditions better for germination. If 

 conditions require the plowing of the field only a short time before 

 planting a heavy roller should be used to bring the plowed soil 

 again in close contact with the lower soil. A light harrow should 

 always be used immediately after the roller to prevent evapora- 



Fia. 152. A Montana field. In dry climates the grain ripens rapidly and much maybe lost 

 by shelling unless the field is quickly cut. (I. H. Co.) 



tion. If the plowing is done in the fall for spring wheat the soil 

 will become well settled and rolling is usually not necessary. 



The seed should be drilled (Fig. 150) as this method gives 

 much better results than broadcast sowing. The depth of cover- 

 ing for the seed depends upon the moisture at time of drilling 

 and upon the texture of the soil. 

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