LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE 329 



as by the need of moisture. There are three methods 

 practised although each has many modifications under 

 different conditions. 



1st. Using cultivator only. 



2nd. Plowing in the fall and cultivating the follow- 

 ing season. 



3rd. Plowing in the spring and cultivating the bal- 

 ance of the season. 



In the first method cultivation is done by the use of 

 the stiff-shank wide duck-foot cultivator. From five to 

 eight cultivations are required during the season to 

 eradicate perennial weeds. The work is started the last 

 of May or the beginning of June and is repeated as fre- 

 quently as necessary to keep the land black until freeze- 

 up. The first stroke is necessarily shallow but the depth 

 is increased each time until the final cultivation is five 

 or six inches deep. This ensures the shares cleaning 

 and thoroughly cutting off the roots of the perennial 

 weeds. 



The second method consists of plowing the land five 

 inches deep in the fall, and in the following year culti- 

 vating with a duck-foot cultivator. Six cultivations are 

 usually necessary to control the weeds. 



The third method with some modifications is the one 

 that is in general use throughout the district. The land 

 is plowed in June about six inches deep, and is cultivated 

 three to six times afterwards to keep down the weeds. 

 This method is often improved upon by either skim 

 plowing or disking in the previous fall as soon as the 

 crop is off the ground. This practice induces the germ- 

 ination of the annual weed seeds in the fall and early 

 spring. For fields infested with wild oats this method 

 is to be commended. 



