winter's moisture, and also permits us to get such land culti- 

 vated and seeded early in the spring, which is very important 

 if the largest crop yield is to be had. On such fall-plowed 

 land, the disk harrow is generally the first tool used. Set at 

 an angle to cut a good depth, double by lapping the disk half, 

 and the first step in the preparation of the seed bed is well 

 done. 



In our dry farm country, the practice is growing of disk- 

 ing the stubble land in the fall soon after the grain is cut. If 

 there is any moisture in the ground this helps to hold it. It 

 may also start weed seeds growing, which are later killed by 

 turning under with the plow. The same practice is sometimes 

 followed in the spring to kill the early growing weeds, and to 

 hold the moisture until the land is plowed. 



In most of the dry farm districts the land is cropped only 

 every second year, the resting year being used to prepare the 

 land and store moisture for the next season's crop. Sometimes 

 in the rainy season of May and June, weeds get a strong start 

 on the fallow land. The disk is our best tool for cutting out 

 these large weeds. There is, however, a caution to be given 

 at this point. On fallowed or summer tilled land the disk 

 should not be used, if the weeds can be conquered without it, 

 as it cuts quite deep on our friable soil and makes a very deep 

 soil mulch, thus wasting more of the soil moisture than is 

 necessary. If the weeds get too strong, as sometimes happens, 

 the disk must be used as the weeds will take more moisture out 

 of ground than would the deep tillage. If possible, however, 

 the weeds should be controlled by shallow tillage. 



In old alfalfa fields, if the stand is not as thick as desired, 

 nothing better can be done to renovate such fields than to 

 thoroughly disk them in the spring of the year. On irrigated 

 ground, a thorough disking of the alfalfa fields every two or 

 three years is good practice, and will generally improve the 

 quantity and quality of the hay. Weeds will be destroyed, 

 and I have yet to meet the person who has any complaints to 

 make as a result of disking his alfalfa. Remember, however, 



