Thorough preparation of the land intended for grain is not only advisable but an 

 absolute necessity on the prairies. Here, where the growing season is short at best, no 

 one can afford to neglect any precaution likely to hasten germination, insure steady 

 growth, or in some measure guarantee early ripening. 



Motive Power and Implements. — Whether horses, oxen, steam tractor or gasoline 

 tractor be used to do the farm work, care should be taken to have them in good shape 

 for work before actual seeding operations begin. Horses or oxen in poor flesh or long 

 idle cannot be expected to do good work when the rush begins. Feed well for some weeks 

 before seeding can possibly begin and give considerable exercise with a view to getting 

 them into condition for the rush at seed time. 



Tractors, whether steam or gas, should be thoroughly overhauled and tried out 

 some weeks ahead of seed time. Repairs come slowly when the land lies ready; better 

 have a few of the more commonly needed parts or repairs on hand before work really 

 begins. Do these things now. 



SEED TIME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PRAIRIES 



J. H. GRISDALE, Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, Ottawa. 

 SOIL PREPARATION FOR WHEAT, OATS AND BARLEY 



On Summer-fallowed Land. — The treatment to give the land both before and 

 after seeding depends upon the character of the soil and the fall preparation. 



All land should be harrowed as soon as it is possible to get thereon in the Spring. 

 The harrowing helps warm it up and conserves moisture. 



All land should be in good shape for seed, that is, fairly fine on the surface, quite 

 firm and as smooth as possible before any seed is sown thereon. 



After you think the field is just right, give it another stroke of the harrow. Thorough, 

 yes, extraordinary soil preparation pays and pays well. 



On Stubble Land — For fall ploughed stubble land the treatment should be the 

 same. 



Unploughed stubble land to be sown to wheat might be burnt over the first warm, 

 windy day in the spring, then given one or two cuts with the harrow before seeding and 

 once over after seeding. 



If stubble will not burn readily or if it is moderately short and therefore need not 

 be burned over, double disc before seeding and harrow afterwards. 



When it is intended to sow stubble land to oats or barley, spring ploughing 4 or 5 

 inches deep will be found to be the best preparation. If not possible to plough then 

 treat as for wheat. 



For Flax — Flax is usually a profitable crop. It may be sown on any kind of soil. 

 Unlike other crops, it will even do well on prairie breaking provided it is sown not later 

 than May. 



On Breaking. — Break or plough 3 inches deep, disc well and sow. Roll or pack 

 before discing if breaking is rough or broken, roll or pack after seeding if a good job of 

 breaking was done. Sow 30 to 40 pounds of seed to the acre. 



QUANTITIES OF SEED TO SOW 



Wheat. — The quantity of wheat to sow to the acre, while an important matter, 

 is one that must be decided at the time of seeding and according to the season and the 

 condition of the land. 



Thick or heavy seeding usually matures more quickly than thin or light seeding. 



Light, poor land Will not carry satisfactorily as heavy a seeding as strong, rich soil. 



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