low cost. But such preparation is not sufficient for grassy land, nor for tight clay 

 soils, nor for some weedy fields. It may be sufficient for immediate returns on other 

 soils that are in good condition. 



But some of this land will be sown without ploughing, or burning, or discing. 

 Grassy fields, or those cropped two or more years without ploughing are likely to fail 

 under this treatment. Fields in good condition, and only one year removed from fallow, 

 may return a net profit by this practice if the season is a moist one; but even under 

 favourable conditions such preparation is sure to lower rather than increase our total 

 production, and if the season is unfavourable such fields are likely to result in a loss to 

 the owner as well as to the nation. 



Generally speaking our total production can be increased in proportion to the intelli- 

 gent work we put on the land and to the power at our command for adequately tilling 

 the soil. At average prices for wheat, the net profit to the producer may not be increased 

 by additional cultivation after land has been reasonably well prepared, but as long as 

 high prices prevail it will pay to do more intensive work than we have ever done before. 



It would seem that Saskatchewan farmers during this testing time will be able to 

 9erve the Empire best, 



(1) By concentrating our best thought and greatest effort, not in sowing 

 every acre under cultivation, but in sowing all the land we can prepare well and 

 by fallowing the balance; 



(2) By using standard varieties of standard crops, and seed that is free from 

 weeds and disease and that will grow vigorously; 



(3) By preventing, as far as possible, the present waste of energy, time and 

 power on the farm, and by increasing the efficiency of the capital and equipment at 

 our disposal ; 



(4) By putting into practice only tested and proven methods of crop pro- 

 duction. 



We must not forget that in a semi-arid northern climate crops do not grow large 

 and get ripe merely because it is our wish that they do so. Neither should we build 

 our hopes on having another season such as the one just past. We must, rather, 

 remember that our efforts during the next year or two years, as in all the years that are 

 to come, will be crowned with success in exact proportion to the intelligent application 

 of the energy and the brains we apply to the undertaking. 



PREPARATION OF SEED BED FOR OATS IN SASKATCHEWAN 



M. J. TINLINE, B.S.A., Acting Superintendent, Dominion Experimental Farm, 



Scott, Sask. " „ 



Some interesting data has been secured in connection with the preparation and treat- 

 ment afforded new land for growing oats. A part of a field that had been broken in 

 1914, was measured off in 5 acre divisions; the work on this field in 1914 was such as is 

 usually given by the best farmers, i.e., it was packed and double disced within three 

 weeks after breaking, and double disced and harrowed with a smoothing harrow in the 

 autumn. In the early spring, all the plots were given a stroke with the smoothing 

 harrow. Ligowo Oats were sown at the rate of 2J^ bus. per acre»on April 30th. The 

 crop was harvested on August 25th and 26th. 



The additional treatment and results secured are given in the following table, — 

 Plot Treatment Yield per acre. 



Bus. Lbs. 



1. Harrowed, sown, packed, harrowed when grain was 



6" high 94 ' 2 



4. Harrowed, floated, sown 93 2 



3. Harrowed, sown, packed after seeding 88 25 



2. Harrowed, sown 83 2 



52 



