50 DRY FARMING 



From this table it would appear that our average soil 

 compares very favorably with some of the well known 

 fertile soils. But again it should be pointed out that this 

 "average" soil does not fairly represent the province; 

 undoubtedly some of our extensive types, as the sandy 

 loams for example, do not measure up to this standard. 

 Furthermore, even on the fertile corn belt land, soil 

 enrichment has been found both practical and profitable. 



(See table XIV.). 



37. Org-anic Matter and Soil Fertility — Organic matter 

 is supplied to the soil in general farm practice in the fol- 

 lowing ways : — 



1. Crop residues; 



2. Green manuring; 



3. Pasturing ; 



' 4. Applying farm manure. 



By crop residues are meant the stubble of cereals, 

 straws, corn stalks, etc. In the corn belt the corn stalks 

 in common practice are broken over, disked and plowed 

 under, and the spreading on the land and plowing under 

 of straw is not uncommon. While these practices may 

 not be possible here, as much organic matter from these 

 sources should be returned as is practicable, either by 

 feeding and returning as manure or bedding down 

 stock, and thus incorporating the straw with the man- 

 ure. The burning of straw piles represents not only a 

 great waste of organic matter and nitrogen, but of other 

 essential elements as well, This is indicated in table VIII. 



