CULTIVATION IN DRY AREAS 161 



planker better adapted to the needs of the dry farm than 

 that which' consists of three or four % l / 2 or 3 inch 

 planks, 12 inches broad and say 8 to 12 feet long. It 

 should be made of some strong wood, as fir, but soft 

 wood, as pine, will answer, although it will wear more 

 quickly as a result of the friction when it is drawn over 

 the land. The construction is in outline as follows : One 

 plank is laid on the ground or on cross-pieces for greater 

 convenience in making it. A second plank is so placed 

 that it will lap over the first one about 4 inches. The 

 third and fourth, if a fourth is used, are similarly lapped. 

 They are spiked together, or, what is better, are held 

 together by pieces of scantling which run across the 

 planks, the latter being somewhat notched on the high 

 edges to receive them. Bolts are inserted from below 

 which run through the cross-pieces. On top of these 

 and lengthwise of the planks a sufficiently strong plank 

 may be nailed on which the driver may stand should 

 he so desire. It is drawn by chains attached to or toward 

 the end front corners and meeting in the middle. If the 

 shoulders of the planks underneath, that is, the rear 

 edges, are faced with sheet iron, they will wear much 

 longer than in the absence of such facing. The planker 

 when in use may or may not be weighted with stones. 

 (See p. 162.) 



This simple device is highly useful on the dry farm. 

 It is used: (1) for compressing and smoothing newly 

 plowed sod land ; (2) for pulverizing clods that lie 

 numerously over the 'surface ; (3) for leveling land that 

 *is uneven ; (4) for smoothing land that is to be drilled 

 for certain uses, and (5) for compressing land under cer- 

 tain conditions that has been sown or planted. 



When used to compress sod land, the planker should 

 be weighted. It is very effective for such a use. It 

 should follow the line of the plow furrow when used on 

 such land. It puts it in excellent shape for following 



