WINTER- WHEAT PEODUCTIOlSr AT FOET HAYS STATION.- 9 



ately after plowing. It receives no other cultivation or treatment. 

 Plat B is plowed as early as practicable after harvest, disked or har- 

 rowed immediately after plowing, and given such subsequent cul- 

 tivation until seeding as may be necessary to prevent the growth of 

 weeds and vegetation. This usually requires three or four cultiva- 

 tions with harrow, disk, or shovel cultivator. Plat E is given the 

 same treatment as B except that it is subsoiled at the time of plowing. 

 Plat A is plowed about 5 inches deep, B from 6 to 7 inches, and E 

 plowed to the same depth as B and subsoiled an additional 7 to 9 

 inches. Subsoilmg, however, is not done every year. It was done 

 precedmg the crops of 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914, 1917, 1919, and 1920. 

 Plat F is furrowed with a lister at the time of plowing B and E. 

 Furrows are run at distances of 3^ feet, the same as if planting corn, 

 and to a depth of about 6 inches. Thereafter until seeding, the plat 

 is given the cultivation necessary to prevent weed growth and to 

 level the surface by seeding time. This usually requires one culti- 

 vation and two harrowings or two cultivations and one harrowing. 



The average date of winter-wheat harvest on these plats has been 

 July 1 and the average date of seeding September 29. A period of 

 90 days thus elapses between harvest and seeding. The average 

 date of plowing plat A has been September 12, or 73 days after har- 

 vest and 17 days before seeding. Plat B has been plowed on the 

 average date of August 2, 32 days after harvest and 58 days before 

 seeding. Plat A thus lies in stubble for 41 days, practically six weeks 

 longer than B; or, stated in another way, B is in a state of bare cul- 

 tivation before seeding for six weeks longer than A. This period of 

 six weeks in August and early September is a summer period when 

 vegetative growth is very strong provided there is any moisture to 

 support it. For the 14 years under consideration the August precip- 

 itation has averaged 3.13 inches. During the same period July has 

 averaged 2.67 inches and September 1.96 inches. 



It may seem that an interval of 32 days between harvest and 

 plowing is unduly long and that any advantage from early plowing 

 might be further enhanced by shortening it. But this is the period 

 fixed by experience as the shortest practicable when the crop is 

 harvested with the binder and thrashed from the shock. The 

 weather causes delays, particularly in clearing the crop from the 

 groimd either by stacking or thrashing. Plowing, listing, or disking 

 consumes considerable time, so it is improbable that for any con- 

 siderable acreage the interval could be shortened in practice. Farms 

 are not likely to be so equipped as to permit the simultaneous conduct 

 of plowing and harvest operations. When the crop is harvested 

 with a header, as much of it is in this section, cultivation may be 

 started somewhat sooner than is possible where the grain is bound. 



107903°— 22 2 



