170 DRY FARMING 



Plowing the fallow early results in the storage of more 

 moisture and encourages weed growth but necessitates 

 added surface cultivation to kill weeds and thus adds 

 to the cost. 



Plowing deep takes more time and money than plow- 

 ing shallow. It kills grass better than shallow plowing 

 and has some other minor advantages, but it does not 

 always give better returns than plowing a medium depth. 

 On deep soils deep plowing in the fallow year is com- 

 monly practised but on shallow soils that have a light 

 subsoil it is objectionable in the dry parts because it 

 encourages soil drifting. 



Subsoiling is seldom practised. In several tests on 

 normal soils it has not paid its way. It is possible that 

 on some "hard-pan" subsoils it might be worth while, but 

 this has not yet been demonstrated. 



Plowing twice is advisable only where grass is pre- 

 valent or where weeds have gotten ahead of the surface 

 tillage machines. Skim plowing in the fall followed by 

 the regular plowing in late June and by subsequent 

 cultivation is recommended for the Red River Valley 

 where the control of sow thistle and wild oats is impor- 

 tant and for all other areas where quack grass or sweet 

 grass are prevalent in the land to be fallowed. Harrow- 

 ing immediately behind the plow lessens the loss of moist- 

 ure by evaporation from the furrow slice, and results in 

 the formation of a better seed bed but it may make the 

 soil too fine and dry and thus encourage drifting. 



Packing the fallow is often a desirable practice 

 but it may not be essential except on land (1) that is 

 plowed late, (2) that plows up in rough condition, (3) 

 that grows a late crop, or (4) where firming the soil over 

 the seed is desirable. 



