140 DRY LAND FARMING 



on the way in which the land is worked, to some extent 

 on the season, and to some extent on the annual precipi- 

 tation. The aim of the farmer in humid areas is to mul- 

 tiply the number of plowings to the greatest extent prac- 

 ticable. The aim of the farmer in dry areas should 

 rather be to plow as seldom as will answer the needs of 

 the system of cropping followed. The more frequently 

 that the former plows the more effectively does he de- 

 stroy weeds and the more perfect is the tilth secured. 

 The more frequently that the latter plows his land, the 

 more difficult is it for him to retain moisture in it. 



When land is first broken the aim should be not to 

 turn up the buried sod again, until it has reached a some- 

 what advanced stage of decay. The sod will rot more 

 quickly down in the bottom of the furrow than when 

 exposed to the dry air. This may be accomplished in 

 two ways. By one method the land, if plowed for the 

 second crop, will be plowed less deeply than for the 

 first crop, providing the same is practicable. By the 

 second it is prepared by discing fall or spring or both 

 seasons. A seed bed thus prepared is much more free 

 from sods than one made amid upturned and imperfectly 

 decayed sods. 



When plowing land for fallow, the aim should be 

 to plow but once during the season. The care of the 

 fallow should be done with other implements than the 

 plow. Every additional plowing given to the land adds 

 to the difficulty of firming it sufficiently to prevent the 

 undue escape of moisture. A second plowing is allow- 

 able should the weeds prevail to such an extent that 

 other implements of tillage may not be able to cope with 

 them effectively. It is also necessary when a green crop 

 is grown to be buried in conjunction with the fallowing 

 process, to add plant food and humus to the soil. 



There are certain times also when discing will be 

 preferable to plowing, but so much depends upon con- 



