302 DRY LAND FARMING 



very dry conditions it may be advisable to grow them 

 thus, not only to insure a crop, but also to increase the 

 moisture content in the soil. Land thus managed has 

 virtually the benefit of summer tillage for two successive 

 years. The moisture thus stored in the soil will render 

 the grain crop that follows almost an assured certainty. 

 These crops may, in some instances, be grown success- 

 fully on alfalfa sod properly prepared. 



Preparing the soil. When root crops follow the 

 summer-fallow it is seldom necessary to plow the land 

 for them in the spring. In most instances deep discing 

 will suffice, following with the harrow. When these crops 

 follow the small cereals the soil may be prepared as out- 

 lined for the planting of corn (see p. 168). If the planting 

 of the crop is deferred until a late period, say early June, 

 the harrow should be freely used in the interval follow- 

 ing the opening of spring. When these crops follow 

 alfalfa, the land should be deeply plowed. This may not 

 be practicable in the autumn. On land thus prepared the 

 alfalfa roots may give trouble in cultivating the soil. 

 This trouble may be greatly lessened by plowing the 

 land to half the depth in the autumn and again to full 

 depth in the spring. 



Sowing. The Mastodon carrot is one of the best 

 varieties to grow, but Danvers half long is also good, hav- 

 ing the special merit of being easily pulled. The Man- 

 moth long red mangel and the Golden Tankard are 

 among the most suitable varieties of this species. Any 

 of the standard varieties of sugar beets, as, for instance. 

 Vilmorin's Improved, may be grown. The old stand-by, 

 the Purple Top Swede, still ranks high among the 

 standard sorts of rutabagas, and the Purple Top Strap 

 Leaf among the turnips. Carrots should be sown as soon 

 as the ground is in proper condition to work in the spring. 

 Mangels and sugar beets should not be sown until 2 or 

 3 weeks later, as they will succumb to frost. The best 



