SUBSEQUENT CARE OF THK I'L.VNT 



171 



the prass, but ll»u faot is that the nu'iulow begun to fail, ami Iho 

 daisies quickly scizod upon the opportunity to gain a foot- 

 hold. • • » The weedy lawns uro those which have n 

 thill turf, and the best treatment is to scratch the grouml 

 lightly with ar iron-toothed rake, apply fertilizer, and sow nioie 

 seed." "The agricultural conditions in tlie Dakutas and other 

 parts of our Plains rei^ion are just such as to encourage a hardy 

 intruder like the Russian thistle. An average of eight or nine 

 bushels of wheat per acre is itself proof of superticial farming; 



i 



Kij: M \ i;:iiii{ lilu» 



Fig' 65. A llehl snni; |il(>* 

 for very xhallow work. 



but the chief fault with this western agriculture is the eontino- 

 OU8 cropping with one crop, — wheat." — Unilry, " Surrirnl of thr 

 Ciitikt," pp. J'Jti, l'X5. 



270(1. Maize may be harrowed until it is four inches higli. 

 The plants will straighten up. This harnjwing is cheaper than 

 cultivating; and if the land is put in gooil condition very early 

 in the life of the crop, much h-ss subsequent tillage is requiri'd. 

 In general, narrow -toothed harrows should be used (Fig. 21). 

 but the stylo of tool roust be adapted to the particular land in 

 question. 



277<i. If the plowing has Iwen thorough f<»r the firwt few 

 yeors after the orchard is planted, the ground should Ik» mo 

 mellow that very light plowing will answer thereiifter. There 

 will Ikj no sod to teor up ami to plow under, and th<- tn-e rootii 

 will b«' deep in the grounil. when* they can And moinfure. A 

 gang-plow (Fig. 64) should be sartlcii-nt for tin- ••i-ridi.' plowmir 



