THE TILLAGE OF STUBBLE LAND 153 



large quantities in the subsoil, from which area it may- 

 rise to the plant roots by "capillarity". But frequently 

 in our tillage operations we create a condition where the 

 subsoil moisture does not rise fast enough to meet the 

 needs of the crop above, in which case lower yields re- 

 sult. Such a condition is produced when the furrow 

 slice of plowed land is not pressed firmly against the 

 subsoil. Moisture will not rise satisfactorily through a 

 layer of lumpy or loose soil, or worse still, through an 

 air space. The chief reason why more fall and spring 

 plowing is not practised in the dry parts of Western 

 Canada is because plowed land has too often been left 

 in a loose condition with stubble and air spaces under 

 the furrow slice, thus largely cutting off the supply of 

 subsoil moisture, with the inevitable result of decreased 

 yields. 



126. Some Common Methods of Preparing Stubble Land 

 for a Crop. — Among the methods followed in the different 

 parts of the West for preparing stubble land for a crop 

 are the following : — ' 



1. Seeding on the untilled stubble without previous or 

 subsequent tillage. 



2. Seeding as above followed by "floating" or "plank- 

 ing". 



3. Disking or cultivating in fall followed by harrow- 

 ing.- 



4. Disking or cultivatting in spring followed by har- 

 rowing. 



5. Burning the stubble in spring and seeding either 

 with or without disking or cultivating. 



6. Fall plowing left rough "to hold snow", then har- 

 rowed down in spring before seeding. 



