LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE 339 



ing years on a fertile soil this was found to be very satis- 

 factory. The summerfallow once in four years was 

 found to be sufficient to conserve moisture and keep the 

 weeds at least partly in check. This rotation with 

 modifications represents most of the farming in this 

 region. However as has already been indicated soil 

 drifting is proving its inadequacy for a permanent sys- 

 tem, and the great increase in weeds also indicates the 

 need of a change. 



290. Improvements in Rotation. — These 'have been indi- 

 cated generally in discussing substitutes for summer- 

 fallow. Greater diversity of crop is needed, including, 

 first a sod-forming hay crop to return fibre to the soil 

 and make feed for live stock which will result in manure. 

 Second, the use of corn or other inter-tilled crop to pro- 

 vide additional live stock fodder and to cheapen the 

 cost of production of wheat. Third, fall rye may be 

 needed to control soil drifting where it is so bad that 

 grasses could not be started. A practical rotation which 

 combines these features is as follows : 



1st Year — "Wheat. 



2nd Year — Oats. 



3rd Year — Summerfallow and partly corn. 



4th Year — Wheat or, if necessary. Fall Rye, seeded 

 down with grasses and clovers. 



5th Year — Hay. 



6th Year — Hay or pasture plowed up in midsummer 

 or earlier, and prepared for wheat. 



This rotation has one half the land in grain crops, one 

 sixth in hay, one sixth in hay or pasture for the early 

 part of the season and afterwards fallow, and one sixth 

 in summerfallow and corn. The seeding down to grasses 

 is on summerfallow or corn land which is the only 



