CROP PRODUCTION IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 21 



not been sufficient from any method to pay the cost of producing the 

 crop. 



When a value, believed to be a conservative one, is assigned to the 

 fodder, both crops show a profit from nearly all methods under trial 

 at all the stations. The only two exceptions are milo following milo 

 by spring plowing at Garden City and kafir by summer tillage at 

 Amarillo. This latter has been on trial for only three years, all of 

 which have been relatively unfavorable. At Garden City and at 

 Amarillo the yields of both grain and fodder from both milo and kafir 

 have been greater following small grain than following themselves 

 on fall plowing. At Dalhart the reverse has been true except in the 

 case of kafir forage. 



Fall plowing has generally been a better preparation than spring 

 plowing for both crops. At Amarillo the results with milo show little 

 difference. 



The yields following listing have not generally departed far in 

 either direction from those on similar land spring plowed. The most 

 marked departure is an increase in the yield of kafir as a result of 

 listing at Dalhart. 



Summer tillage as a preparation for these crops was not included 

 in the experiments as originally outlined for Garden City. This 

 defect has been remedied, but results of value have not yet been 

 obtained. At Dalhart it has been the most productive and profitable 

 method under trial. At Amarillo this method has been under trial 

 for only three years. The results presented are not comparable with 

 those from other methods. The data at hand indicate that marked 

 increases in yields may be expected. 



TILLAGE PRACTICES. 



In the preceding pages data have been presented and discussed on 

 each crop separately. The data and the experience gained and 

 observations made during the investigations indicate that certain 

 tillage practices are more or less general in their application. These 

 will now be considered in their general application without reference 

 to individual crops. 



PLOWING AND ITS SUBSTITUTES. 



Iii these investigations it has been assumed that the land should 

 always be plowed for all crops following small-grain crops, except 

 when it is ridged with a lister in the fall and cultivated down level 

 in tin- spring without the use of the plow or when cultivated crops are 

 planted with the lister. The practice of disking in small-grain crops 

 on the stubble of the previous small-grain crop without plowing has 

 not been tested sufficiently to warrant any definite recommendation 

 at this time. This is a method that .is sometimes resorted to in some 



