THE MOISTURE PROBLEM 83 



2. Sufficient surface cultivation to kill weeds, grass 

 and volunteer grains, which use up water in the 

 process of growth. 



3. Sufficient surface cultivation to prevent the soil 

 from cracking, and thereby increasing the evaporat- 

 ing surface. 



The conservation of mioisture "stored" in breaking is 

 accomplished by : 



1. Packing or "planking" immediately after breaking 

 — so as to lessen the loss of moisture from the fur- 

 row slice and the subsoil by the drying winds. 



2. Disking and harrowing as necessary to control 

 weeds and grass. 



The conservation of the limited moisture supply in 

 stubble land can be effected by : 



1. Fall plowing of grassy land to kill the grass and 

 thus save the water the grass demands for growth, — 

 a practice which may be neutralized in the very 

 dry parts by increased evaporation from the over- 

 turned furrow slice. 



2. Early harrowing or packing of all spring-plowed 

 land in order to protect the furrow slice and sub- 

 soil from the drjdng effect of the winds. 



3. Harrowing early in the spring before sowing, or 

 harrowing such crops as cereals, corn and potatoes 

 after they are up in order to control weed growth 

 or prevent the soil cracking. This practice cannot 

 be followed indiscriminately on all soils, as on some 

 it will result in increasing the danger of soil drift- 

 ing. 



55. Keeping Soil Moisture Available. — Making the best 

 possible use of the moisture stored and conserved in the 



