DRY-FARMING 



is set perfectly straight and weighted to 

 make it cut deeply. Used in this way it 

 does very effective w T ork in settling and 

 packing the bottom of the furrow-slice. 



Speaking of the Columbia Basin 

 region Hunter remarks: "There is con- 

 siderable fall plowing done for spring 

 crops. It is generally conceded that bet- 

 ter yields are secured from fall plowing 

 than from spring plowing, provided the 

 land is reasonably clean. There are sev- 

 eral reasons for this. Soil left rough and 

 porous as it comes from the plow holds 

 the snow better and rain much better 

 than land that is unplowed. By seeding- 

 time in the spring the winter rains have 

 settled the soil sufficiently to form a good, 

 firm seed-bed. In other words, the win- 

 ter rains put the bottom of the furrow- 

 slice in practically the same condition 

 as does the subsurface packer or the cor- 

 rugated roller. When in this condition 

 204 



