LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE 323 



of seeding should always be less than in humid sections. 

 In western North Dakota three-fourths of a bushel of 

 wheat is sufficient on most farms. One and one-fourth 

 bushels of oats and barley are plenty to seed. 



269. Weeds are a great nuisance throughout the dry 

 farming section. Wild oats is probably the worst of our 

 annual weeds. The seed will not grow in the fall but 

 readily grows and matures in fields of small grain. A 

 good system of crop rotation is necessary to keep this 

 weed in control. The Russian thistle is present every- 

 where in the dry regions. In the wetter years it causes 

 but little harm but in the dry seasons it often grows up 

 and smothers crops and makes their harvesting difficult. 

 It may be used for hay or silage and if fed with other 

 feeds it has been found fairly nutritious. A good system 

 of crop rotation is also very beneficial in holding this 

 weed in check. 



2.70. Soil Drifting. — ^This sometimes causes the total 

 destruction of crops. It is usually the result of the con- 

 tinuous growing of small grains, particularly if alter- 

 nated with summerfallow or summer tillage. Prevention 

 of soil drifting is preferable to curing it after it starts. 

 The growing of grass crops in the rotation and the re- 

 turn of all the organic matter such as straw to the soil, 

 in the form of manure and the leaving of the surface 

 soil rough will prevent soil drifting. Where the soil is 

 light and so deficient in organic matter that it drifts 

 badly it should be spring plowed only. Strips of straw 

 should be scattered over it at intervals and the surface 

 of the soil should be left rough and the land seeded the 

 same day it is plowed. 



Great care must be used in harrowing the growing 

 crop. This practice usually makes the crop somewhat 



