322 DRY FARMING 



fitable rotation of this character for North Dakota is po- 

 tatoes or corn, seeded to wheat without plowing and with 

 the wheat sow sweet clover. This would be a three-year 

 rotation consisting of wheat, sweet clover, and com or 

 potatoes. A longer and more practical rotation would be 

 to have a field in each of corn, wheat, sweet clover, pota- 

 toes, wheat, oats or barley, flax and one field seeded per- 

 manently to alfalfa. 



In the dry region it is very important to maintain the 

 organic matter of the soil as this constituent has great 

 ability to hold moisture and prevent the soil from drift- 

 ing. Legumes are necessary to keep up the nitrogen 

 content of the soil and at the same time they furnish the 

 best kind of feed for live stock which in turn helps to 

 keep up the fertility of the soil and at the same time give 

 a permanent income. 



267. The Best Crops.— The best varieties of wheat for 

 the dry region are Marquis and the two Durums, Acme 

 and Kubanka. Early varieties of oats should be used, 

 such as the "Sixty-day'', Early Mountain, and Swedish 

 Select. Of the mid-season varieties the Siberian White 

 and the Lincoln are the best. One of the wilt-resistant 

 varieties of flax should be used such as N.D. 114, 52 or 

 155. The two-rowed bai'leys, such as Swan Neck and 

 Hannschen are the most productive. The yellow variety 

 of sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) is probably a little 

 superior to the white (Melilotus alba) variety. The 

 Grimm is the only variety of alfalfa hardy enough for 

 our conditions. Brome grass is the hardiest and most 

 palatable grass. Western rye grass is also very good. 

 Sunflowers may be used as an intertilled crop or as a 

 substitute for corn as a silage crop, 



268. The Rate of Seeding.— In the drier part^ the rate 



