254 DRY FARMING 



than in others. It is greatest in over-ripe crops and 

 least in immature ones. The Durum or Maearoni wheats 

 are our most non-shattering varieties. Marquis shatters 

 less than any of our other commonly-grown sorts. Barley 

 does not shatter seriously, but the heads break off easily 

 after maturing. Rye shatters very easily if let get too 

 ripe. The seed of the grasses and sweet clover when al- 

 lowed to mature also shatters freely. Early harvesting, 

 careful handling, and the use of non-shattering classes 

 or varieties, are about the only practices that will offset 

 this possible loss. 



203. Late Breaking. The results of experiments at 

 Saskatoon during the last four years indicate that delay 

 in breaking native prairie after the tenth of June de- 

 creases the yield of wheat one bushel per acre per week, 

 or what is more important, decreases the profit from 

 $8.44 per acre on June 10th breaking to $3.81 on 

 August breaking and $1.09 on breaking done in the 

 month of September. It is impossible on a farm to do 

 every job at the best time, but when the best time is 

 known a man can so shape his plans that as much as 

 possible of the work can be done when it should be done. 



These conclusions are probably applicable only to that 

 portion of the open prairie lying between the 104th and 

 110th meridians. In proportion as the average ram- 

 fall of other areas is greater than that at Saskatoon, the 

 breaking of the prairie land or the grass land may very 

 profitably be delayed. In the most humid parts August 

 breaking or even spring breaking may be cropped with 

 some success. 



204. Seeding on Breaking Done the Same Season. 

 The newcomer naturally desires a crop as soon as pos- 

 sible after taking up land. In the more humid parts a 



