328 DRY FARMING 



sufficient moisture to produce good crops. The early fall 

 frosts influence the type of farming more than moisture 

 conservation; therefore, the growing of early ripening 

 varieties and the use of methods of soil management 

 that will induce early maturity are the general farm 

 practices. 



Eastern or Red River Valley : The climate of this dis- 

 trict is more favorable to crop production than that of 

 any other portion of the Province. The annual precipi- 

 tation is about 20 inches. A large amount of this moist- 

 ure comes during the growing season and if not wasted 

 is more than sufficient to produce maximum crops. With 

 the standard varieties now in use on most farms there is 

 practically no danger from fall frosts. The methods of 

 farming are based as much upon the control of such 

 factors as weeds, plant diseases and insects as they are 

 upon the conservation of moisture. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, methods that control weeds and insects are usually 

 the same as methods that conserve moisture. 



274. The Place of the Bare Summerfallow in the Red 

 River Valley. Since the pioneer days when grain grow- 

 ing became prevalent the summerfallow has been the 

 popular method of preparing stubble land for crop. The 

 purpose of summerfallow is to prepare, during the slack 

 season, a large acreage of land for crop and to conserve 

 moisture. Before the advent of the perennial sow 

 thistle the summerfallow was introduced into the rota- 

 tion every fourth year. Since the control of this weed 

 has become important it is now necessary in most in- 

 stances to fallow every third year. Where this practice 

 is followed profitable crops are ensured. 



275. Methods of Fallowing. The methods of fallowing 

 are determined quite as much by weeds and other factors 



