35'2 DRY FARMING 



destroying the weeds when they are very small, else 

 many of them will be large and have made a heavy draft 

 on the moisture before they have been all killed. The 

 implement used almost exclusively during the first two 

 seasons as a weed destroyer in the fallow is the Rotary 

 Rod Weeder. For several years previously a stationary 

 rod weeder was used, but since the weeder with the re- 

 volving rod has been tried, the other one has been dis- 

 carded. The Rotary Rod Weeder destroys all the weeds 

 if it is used before they are too large, and leaves the land 

 with a rough surface, not likely to blow. In some seasons 

 it will be necessary to go over the fallow twice with the 

 weeder to control weed growth, but the amount of work 

 given is governed entirely by conditions.. If weeds make 

 their appearance and are likely to attain any size they 

 should be destroyed. 



307. Fall Treatment of Fallow. The final operation on 

 the fallow in the fall should be such as will leave it in a 

 condition to best withstand heavy winds during the 

 winter. Ridging with either a cultivator or a spring 

 tooth harrow across the direction of the general winds is 

 a good practice. The ridges not only serve to catch any 

 soil that starts to shift, but they catch and hold light 

 snowfalls that are frequently swept off fields that have a 

 smooth surface. By removing two-thirds of the teeth 

 from the spring tooth harrow so that the ridges are one 

 foot wide the draft is lightened and the work more ef- 

 fectively done at the same time. 



308. Hoe Drill Preferred. The hoe drill has been given 

 a fairly good trial during the past two years and since 

 it leaves the land much rougher than the other types of 

 drills, it will probably come into fairly general use in 

 districts where soil-drifting is particularly troublesome. 



