270 



DRY FARMING 



The use of the press drill leaves the soil in better con- 

 dition to withstand the effects of the wind than the use of 

 most other types, although on some soils the hoe drill 

 has been found to give very satisfactory results. The 



Fig. 92. — Winter Rye Lessens Soil Drifting. 



On the left a field of oats was completely destroyed by drifting. The rye 



was unhurt, except for 10 or 20 feet along the edge where the soil from 



the oat field blew into the rye field. 



single disc drill is particularly undesirable on soils that 

 drift. 



Shallow soils or those having a sand^^ or gravelly 

 subsoil or those having a deficiency of organic matter in 

 the subsoil should not be plowed deep, or they will soon 

 begin to blow. The surface layer of such soils is riclier 

 in organic matter and therefore much more resistant to 

 the wind than the lower layers. 



224. Growing Protecting Crops.^The most serious 

 drifting occurs in May before the spring sown crops 

 covev the ground; but winter drifting is not uncommon 

 in years of light snowfall following a dry autumn sea- 



