THE TILLAGE' OF STUBBLE LAND 165 



Deep fall plowing as a general rule, is likely to pro- 

 duce less favorable yields in our climate than in a humid 

 one, and less in the dry parts of the West than in either 

 the eastern or northern parts. It would also seem from 

 the point of view of weed control that deep fall plowing 

 before weed seeds have germinated should be dis- 

 couraged. 



Spring plowing permits of the stubble holding snow 

 when there is any to hold and gives less, opportunity for 

 the plowed "soil to dry out. In other respects what has 

 been said of fall plowing applies in a general way to 

 spring plowing. It has been observed, however, that 

 spring plowing for oats gives more favorable results 

 than the same cultivation does with wheat, .and in- 

 variably it produces more of any cereal than fall plowed 

 land that is left untilled'and allowed to dry out. Favor- 

 able results from spring plowing for barley have been 

 reported by many different farmers. 



It might here be emphasized again that in the drier 

 parts both fall and spring plowing should be firmed and 

 well harrowed down, otherwise very disappointing yields 

 may often result. 



137. The Importance of "Net" Returns. — From what 

 has been said it is apparent that fair yields can be pro- 

 duced on stubble fields. Our aim, however, must be to 

 produce "net" profits rather than "gross" returns. A 

 large yield is not always the most profitable. On the 

 other hand a poor yield, even though no cultivation has 

 been given, may not pay the interest and maintenance 

 charges on the necessary investment in land, buildings, 

 machinery, fences and stock. 



As long as land is cheap and labor and equipment are 

 high in price intensive methods on stubble land are not 



